The Acadiana Advocate 02-15-2026 by The Advocate

ELECTION 2026

La.’s two biggest raceslack major Democrat

U.S. Senate,5th Districtcontests reveal party’s weakness in state

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Republicans are ﬁelding candidates with winning records at the ballot box for the U.S. Senate and the 5th Congressional District,the twomarquee politicalraces this year.

Louisiana’sDemocrats?Not at all.

It’sthe latest sign of Democrats’ weakness in the Bayou State, where Republicansholdall the statewide elected ofﬁces and two-thirds of the seats inthe state House and Senate.

Former Gov.John Bel Edwards, state Sen. JayLuneau, state Sen. Gary Carter,former U.S. Rep. Chris John and former Senate candidate LukeMixon —all took apass when Louisiana Democratic Party chair RandalGaines asked them to consider runningfor the U.S. Senate seat.

The three-day qualifying period for this year’selections endedFriday Gaines also couldn’t recruitstate Sen. Katrina Jackson of Monroe to runfor the 5th Congressional District, which stretches from BatonRouge to Monroe. Jackson said that,afterprayingonit, she decideditdidn’tpresent agood opportunityfor her

“They are worried aboutrisking their political capital on arace that won’tproduce a likely win,” Gaines said Friday.“We can’tcoerce anyone to run.”

Meanwhile, Republicansare suffering from an embarrassment of richesthatis already turning the Senate and 5th Congressional District races into intraparty slugfests.

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow,R-Baton Rouge, andstate TreasurerJohn Fleming are challenging Sen. Bill Cassidy,R-Baton Rouge, in the May 16 Republican primary Fleming is attacking Letlow and Cassidy as not being conservative enough, while Cassidy is calling Letlow “a liberal.” Sheishighlighting the fact that she has President Donald Trump’sendorsement,and they don’t.

Letlow is vacating her 5thCongressional District seat to challengeCassidy.Inthe race to replaceher,two Republican legislators —state Sen. Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge and stateRep.

ä See RACES, page 4A

PHOTO By ROBINMAy

Letlow

Fleming Cassidy

Russia poisoned Navalny with frog toxin, U.K. says Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was poisoned with a deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs, the U.K.’s foreign ofﬁce said on Saturday

The toxin — epibatidine — was found in samples from Navalny’s body and “highly likely resulted in his death,” according to a statement issued by U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the Munich Security Conference.

“Only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin to target Navalny during his imprisonment in a Russian penal colony in Siberia, and we hold it responsible for his death,” the statement said.

Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent opponent, died in February 2024 at the age of 47 in a camp where he was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism. His supporters and Western governments blamed the Kremlin for his death.

The joint statement made with Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Germany — said Russia had “brazenly” developed and deployed the poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Four new astronauts arrive at space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who bailed earlybecauseofhealthconcerns

SpaceX delivered the American, French and Russian astronauts a day after launching them from Cape Canaveral.

Last month’s medical evacuation was NASA’s ﬁrst in 65 years of human spaceflight. One of the four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer suffered what officials described as a serious health issue, prompting their hasty return. That left only three crew members to keep the place running — one American and two Russians prompting NASA to pause spacewalks and trim research.

Moving in for eight to nine months are NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev Meir, a marine biologist, and Fedyaev a former military pilot, have lived up there before During her first station visit in 2019, Meir took part in the first all-female spacewalk. Adenot, a military helicopter pilot, is only the second French woman to fly in space. Hathaway is a captain in the U.S. Navy

Another alleged drug boat struck, killing 3

WASHINGTON The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the Caribbean Sea.

U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” It said the strike killed three people A video linked to the post shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames.

Friday’s attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats to 133 people in at least 38 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Paciﬁc Ocean.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared last week that “some top cartel drugtrafﬁckers” in the region “have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.” However, Hegseth did not provide any details or information to back up this claim, made in a post on his personal account on social media.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

TSA again working without pay

Airport security caught up in Homeland Security shutdown

BY RIO YAMAT AP airlines and travel writer

A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43day government shutdown that led to historic ﬂight cancellations and long delays last year

Transportation Security Administration ofﬁcers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on DHS’ annual funding. TSA ofﬁcers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov 12, but aviation experts say this one may play out differently

Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines nonetheless warned that the longer DHS appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at the nation’s commercial airports could get Funding for Homeland Security expired at midnight. But the rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread ﬂight cancellations.

According to the department’s contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Democrats in the House and Senate say DHS won’t get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration

operations. During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to build over time, not overnight. About a month into last year’s shutdown, for example, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. That same day, the government took the extraordinary step of ordering all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic ﬂight schedules.

John Clark, arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from a business trip in Mississippi, said he was impacted by that earlier shutdown and is worried.

“You might not be able to get home if you’re already out, or it might delay if you worked all week and you’re trying to get home,” said Clark, who frequently travels for his job balancing machines.

Canada’s PM, opposition leader hold hands at vigil

BY JIM MORRIS and ROB GILLIES Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the country’s main opposition leader held hands Friday as they paid tribute to the victims of one of the worst mass shootings in the country’s history at a vigil in a devastated British Columbia town.

Carney and Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre joined hands as an Indigenous leader sang a prayer outside the town hall in Tumbler Ridge.

Carney and Poilievre also spoke. The prime minister named each of the six people killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and said the mother and brother of the shooter who were killed also “deserve to be mourned.”

Authorities said the 18-year-old alleged shooter, identified as Jesse Van Rootselaar killed her 39-year-old mother, Jennifer Jacobs, and 11-year-old stepbrother, Emmett Jacobs, in their home on Tuesday before heading to the nearby Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and opening fire, killing five children and an educator before killing herself.

Carney said he sat with people who are “living through something no one should ever have to endure.”

“When you wake up tomorrow, and the world feels impossible, know that millions of Canadians are with you. When the cameras leave and the quiet sets in — know that we will still be here,” Carney said.

A crowd of hundreds attended the vigil. Some held photos of loved ones they lost Carney said the community has always

been deﬁned by people caring for each other “And when the unimaginable happened on Tuesday, you were there again. First responders at the school within two minutes. Teachers shielding their children,” he said.

Poilievre commended Carney for his “tremendous grace.” Canada’s political leaders ﬂew from Ottawa together British Columbia Premier David Eby said the students of the school won’t ever have to return to the building if they don’t want to.

“I will promise that not one of you will ever be forced to go back to that school. We will provide a safe place for you to go back to school,” Eby said.

Authorities on Thursday identified those killed at the school as Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa, Zoey Benoit and Ticaria Lampert, all age 12, as well as 13-year-old Ezekiel Schoﬁeld and assistant teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39. Maya Gebala, 12, who was wounded in the head and neck, and Paige Hoekstra, 19, who also suffered bullet wounds, remain hospitalized in Vancouver

Dwayne McDonald, the deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia, said earlier Friday that the alleged shooter did not appear to be searching for a speciﬁc target at the school.

“This suspect was, for lack of a better term, hunting,” McDonald said. “They were prepared and engaging anybody and everybody they could come in contact with.”

Four guns were seized, two from the family home and two from the school, he said.

Rio police in costume arrest phone thieves

By The Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO Rio de Janeiro police ofﬁcers kitted themselves out as thieves from the series “Money Heist” and as Jason Voorhees from the “Friday the 13th” horror movie franchise to blend in with crowds celebrating Carnival and catch criminals stealing cellphones. Carnival ofﬁcially kicked off on Friday in Rio, and for many revelers participating in the megalopolis’ raucous, dazzling street parties, one of the biggest concerns is holding on to their phones — as thefts are all too common.

To tackle this phenomenon, ofﬁcers in the Santa Teresa neighborhood Friday donned costumes to ﬂy under thieves’ radar The undercover agents noticed a woman snatching a cellphone from someone’s hand, followed her and saw her hand the device to an accomplice,

Rio’s civil police said in a statement Saturday Police arrested the pair and found ﬁve cellphones in their possession. That wasn’t the first time Brazilian police ofﬁcers wearing costumes have sought to mingle with the crowds during festivities to catch wrongdoers.

Last Sunday police officers dressed as characters from “Ghostbusters” caught a woman with 12 cellphones stolen in downtown Sao Paulo. A day prior, officers in alien outfits caught a man with three phones hidden under his clothing.

Cellphone thefts have declined overall in Brazil, according to the 2025 annual report by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety think-tank. They dropped from approximately 980,000 per year in 2022 to some 850,000 in 2024. But fear of both armed robberies and discreet pocketing of cellphones remains high.

“It’s really bad.” John Rose, chief risk ofﬁcer for global travel management company Altour, said strains could surface at airports more quickly this time because the TSA workforce also will be remembering the last shutdown. “It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.

It’s hard to predict whether, when or where security screening snags might pop up. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there’s just a single security checkpoint. At the airport, Rose said, remember to “practice patience and empathy.”

“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA agents, “they’re probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers.”

At least 3 detained in Guthrie case, but still no arrests made

BY BRIAN NIEMIETZ New york Daily News (TNS)

Heavy police activity in Tucson, Arizona, late Friday night resulted in at least three people being detained in connection to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, but ended without any arrests. Two individuals a man and a woman — were taken out of a Pima County home during an operation involving a SWAT team, according to News Nation. More than a dozen vehicles, including those from SWAT and forensics, were seen at the residence roughly 2 miles from Guthrie’s home. Investigators were said to have spent several hours searching the property

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed on Saturday that a federal court-ordered search warrant was carried out at the home and was “based on a lead” received by detectives.

Sheriff Chris Nanos told local CBS afﬁliate KOLD 13 that there were no signs of Guthrie at the residence

and no arrests were made. A third person of interest was simultaneously detained in connection with the case during a traffic stop in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant. The male driver was cooperative and later released, Nanos said. What led law enforcement to those three individuals wasn’t clear on Saturday The PCSD did not provide details on the lead they received, saying the FBI requested that no further information be publicly shared. The late-night activity came just hours after authorities revealed that DNA collected from Guthrie’s property didn’t belong to her or those in close contact with her During an appearance on CNN Saturday morning, TMZ founder Harvey Levin said he’d been unable to confirm if the DNA was a factor in the detainments. However, he did say a law enforcement source told him the ransom notes and reward demands received by his outlet were “not the trigger.”

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CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO By CHRISTINNE MUSCHI Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana Fox Carney place flowers at a memorial for the victims of a mass shooting Friday in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

Rubio’s speech to European allies takes softer tone

BY MATTHEW LEE, EMMA BURROWS and GEIR MOULSON Associated Press

MUNICH U.S. Secretary of State

Marco Rubio offered a reassuring message to America’s allies on Saturday, striking a less aggressive but still ﬁrm tone about the administration’s intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance and push its priorities after more than a year of President Donald Trump’s often-hostile rhetoric toward traditional allies.

Reminding his audience at the annual Munich Security Conference about America’s centuries-long roots in Europe, Rubio said the United States would remain forever tied to the continent even as it pushes for changes in the relationship and the institutions that have been the bulwark of the post-World War II world order Rubio addressed the conference a year after Vice President JD Vance stunned the same audience with a harsh critique of European values. A series of Trump administration statements and moves targeting allies followed, includ-

ing Trump’s short-lived threat last month to impose new tariffs on several European countries in a bid to secure U.S. control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.

On Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had opened this year’s gathering by calling for the U.S. and Europe to “repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together,” saying that even the U.S. isn’t powerful enough to go it alone in an world whose old order no longer exists. But he and other European ofﬁcials made clear that they will stand by their values, including their approach to free speech, climate change and free trade.

‘A child of Europe’

While offering a calmer and more reassuring tone, Rubio made clear that the Trump administration is sticking to its guns on policy He denounced “a climate cult” and “an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies.”

Rubio argued that the “euphoria” of the Western victory in the Cold War led to a “dangerous delusion that we had entered ‘the end of history,’ that every nation would now be a liberal democracy, that the ties formed by trade and by com-

merce alone would now replace nationhood and that we would now live in a world without borders where everyone became a citizen of the world.”

“We made these mistakes together and now together we owe it to our people to face those facts and to move forward to rebuild,”

Rubio said.

“This is why President Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe.”

Rubio said that an end of the trans-Atlantic era “is neither our goal nor our wish,” adding that “our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.”

He acknowledged that “we have bled and died side-by-side on battleﬁelds from Kapyong to Kandahar,” a contrast with disparaging remarks by Trump about NATO allies’ troops in Afghanistan that drew an outcry “And I’m here today to make it clear that America is charting the path for a new century of prosperity and that once again, we want to do it together with you, our cherished allies and our oldest friends.”

U.S. ofﬁcials accompanying Rubio said his message was much the same as Vance’s last year but was

intended to have a softer landing on the audience.

Reassured but not complacent

The president of the European Union’s executive commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Rubio’s speech was “very reassuring” but noted that “in the administration, some have a harsher tone on these topics.”

In her speech to the conference, she stressed that “Europe must become more independent,” including on defense. She insisted on Europe’s “digital sovereignty” — its approach to hate speech on social media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “we shouldn’t get in the warm bath of complacency He said the U.K must reforge closer ties with Europe to help the continent “stand on our own two feet” in its own defense, and said there needs to be investment that “moves us from overdependence to interdependence.”

Hanno Pevkur, the defense minister of EU and NATO member Estonia, said it was “quite a bold statement to say that America is ‘a child of Europe’.”

“It was a good speech, needed here today, but that doesn’t mean that we can rest on pillows now,”

he told The Associated Press. “So still a lot of work has to be done.” Rubio didn’t mention Greenland. After last month’s escalation over Trump’s designs on the Arctic island, the U.S., Denmark and Greenland started technical talks on an Arctic security deal. The Secretary of State met briefly in Munich on Friday with the Danish and Greenlandic leaders, a meeting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described as constructive. But Frederiksen suggested Saturday that although the dispute has cooled, she remains wary Asked whether the crisis has passed, she replied: “No, unfortunately not. I think the desire from the U.S. president is exactly the same. He is very serious about this theme.” Asked whether she can put a price on Greenland, she responded “of course not,” adding that “we have to respect sovereign states and we have to respect people’s right for self-determination. And the Greenlandic people have been very clear, they don’t want to become Americans.”

BY SAMYA KULLAB, EMMA BURROWS and ELISE MORTON Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Ukraine’s

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his international allies for their support but suggested there was still questions remaining over the future security guarantees for his country

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Zelenskyy repeatedly thanked American and European allies for helping Ukraine by providing air defense systems that protect infrastructure like power plants and “save lives.”

Previous U.S.-led efforts to find consensus on ending the war, most rece ntly two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, have failed to resolve difﬁcult issues, such as the future of Ukraine’s Donbas industrial heartland that is largely occupied by Russian forces. Later with reporters, Zelenskyy questioned how the concept of a free-trade zone — proposed by the U.S. — would work in the Donbas region which Russia insists Kyiv must give up in order to get peace. He also said the Americans want peace as quickly as possible and that U.S. team wants to sign all the agreements on Ukraine at the same time whereas Ukraine wants guarantees over the country’s future security signed ﬁrst. European nations, including the U.K. and France, have already said they will commit troops to Ukraine to guarantee its future security The U.S. is also expected to be involved and discussions are currently ongoing about the nature of America’s support.

Russian officials are opposed to any foreign troop

presence in Ukraine, Zelenskyy suggested, because Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to have the opportunity to attack Ukraine again

Zelenskyy also said he was surprised that Moscow had replaced the head of its negotiating team before another round of U.S.-brokered talks and suggested the move was deliberately aimed at delaying negotiations

The talks take place against a backdrop of continued fighting along the roughly 750-mile front line, relentless Russian bombardment of civilian areas of Ukraine and the country’s power grid, and Kyiv’s almost daily long-range drone attacks on war-related assets on Russian soil.

During negotiations, Russian ofﬁcials have insisted Ukraine give up more territory in the east of the country to end the war But Zelenskyy told The Associated Press that it was “a little bit crazy” to suggest Ukraine withdraw from its own territory or exchange it

Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed defending the country’s Donbas region, he said, pointing out that 200,000 people also live there and it would not be acceptable to effectively hand them over to Russia.

Zelenskyy also questioned how the concept of a free economic zone would work.

“Imagine,” he said, if foreign soldiers patrolled the zone and Putin provoked them and they left. In that case, he said, there could be a “big occupation” of Ukraine and a lot of losses. If Putin is given any opportunity for victory “we don’t know what he will do next,” Zelenskyy said Such a model, Zelenskyy told the AP, would have “big risks” for Ukraine and for any country which committed to guaranteeing Ukraine’s security But he said he was ready to discuss it as it could be important as a compromise in exchange for securing support to reconstruct Ukraine.

CATCH OURDRIFT

RACES

Continued from page1A

Michael Echols of Monroe —are hammering athird legislator,state Sen. BlakeMiguez of Erath, for living about 100 milesoutside of the district’s boundaries. Candidates can run forcongressional seats even if they don’tlive inside thedistrict. Miguez is emphasizinghis endorsement by Trump. Another Republican candidate, Misti Cordell, ahealth care consultant in Monroe and chair of the state Board of Regents whoispersonally close to Gov.Jeff Landry and hiswife Sharon, sniped at Miguez, but at alower volume than the others.

Little-known candidates

No one is attacking the Democrat candidatesinthe Senate and 5th CongressionalDistrict races becausetheyaren’trelevant enough —and might never be.

The Democrat Senate candidates are: Nick Albares, aformer aide to Edwardswho has worked most recently as vice president of strategic affairsfor Volunteers of America in New Orleans; Jamie Davis, afarmerin northeast Louisiana who served one termon the Tensas Parish Police Jury,and GaryCrockett,abusinessexecutive of New Orleans

roll in

The5th CongressionalDistrict Democrat candidates are: Jessee Fleenor of Loranger,Larry Foyof Winnsboro, Lindsay “Rubia” Garcia of Walker,Dan McKay of Bunkie and Tania Nyman of Baton Rouge Fleenor reflects the Democrats’ predicament. Wearing rubber boots while talking to reporters after qualifying Wednesday,Fleenor seemedlike he could be aDemocrat who could connect with rural voters who have deserted the party He emphasized his work as afarmer blasted Trump for his tieswith convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and said the tax cuts passed last year by Trump and Congress favor thewealthy Butinaninterviewafterward, Fleenor acknowledgedheislittle known in thedistrict and hasn’t raised much money for the campaign.

Albares, who filed on Friday to run, said he understands that he

will be viewed as alongshotbut felt acalling to run nonetheless.

“I am acandidate who focuseson solutions for Louisiana and proximitytothe peopleinLouisiana andnot to out-of-state politicians,” Albares said. He was referringto Trump, who instantly made Letlow and Miguez viable candidates by endorsing them. “Wehave to do somethingabout affordability for housing, insurance and everyday goods.”

Yearsofebbinginfluence

After the endofthe post-Civil WarReconstruction Era, when Republicans briefly held power, Democrats held sway over Louisiana for decades.

Not until1979 did Louisiana elect another Republican governor,David Treen.

Twomore Republicans had been elected governor,Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal, by thetime Republicans gained amajority of seatsin theLouisiana Legislature in 2010.

In 2023,Republicanseasily won all seven statewideelected ofﬁces andwon atwo-thirds majority in both thestate Houseand Senate for the first time sincethe 19th century

Together,the Republican lawmakershave cut income tax rates, eliminated antipollutionregulationsthat industrial firms said sapped investment, strengthened anti-abortion laws, mandated lon-

gersentences for inmates and weakened procedures that promote diversity,equity andinclusion.

Otherthan Edwards’ victories as governor in 2015 and 2019, no Democrat has won astatewide electioninLouisiana sincethenU.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu wonreelection in 2008.

Louisiana has two Black Democrats in Congress, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter of New Orleans and U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields of BatonRouge Both arerunningfor reelection, with little opposition, rather than running for the Senate seat.

In Louisiana,and indeedthroughout the South, White voters have deserted theDemocraticParty

Almost two-thirds of Democrats in Louisiana today are Black voters, according to statistics compiled by John Couvillon, aBaton Rougebased pollster and demographer No Black candidate has won a statewide election in Louisiana since Reconstruction.

“Democratsare aparty that has adesperate need for rebuildingand to distinguish itself from theparty’snational culture wars,” said Pearson Cross, apolitical science professor at the University of LouisianaatMonroe.

‘A long-termstrategy’

Gaines said he is rebuilding the party by undertaking adrive to register young voters as Demo-

crats, training Democrats to run for lower ofﬁces to build abench forhigher ofﬁces and establishing chapters of College Democrats on campuses.

“The party’singreat shape in building for the future,” Gaines said. “We’reengagedina longterm strategy.”

Gaines notedthatChasity Verret Martinez, aDemocrat, just won a special election by defeating her Republican opponent, 62%-38%, to represent Iberville and part of Assumption Parish in stateHouse District 60. Trump won that district by 13 points in 2024.

Democrats still can count on the organizing efforts of such groups as the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, Louisiana Progress and the NAACP that worked to get Black peopleinparticular to vote in the race that Martinez won. It had the highest turnout of any of the ﬁve legislative races on the ballot that day

“Wephone banked andvisited Black churches, barber shops and grocery stores,” said Lady Carlson, alead organizer with the Westside Sponsoring Committee. She noted that progressive groups played arole in organizing voters to defeat four constitutional amendments sought by Landry in March. It was the governor’sbiggest political defeat.

“Politicsisabout timing andopportunity,” Gaines said.

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Riders

the youngsville Mardi Gras parade on Saturday

PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy

CoryNevils, left, fights forbeads along with hisdaughter Ellie and son Ross during the youngsville Mardi Gras parade on Saturday

Arider makes athrowduring the parade on Saturday.

JudgeSusan Theall makes athrow during the youngsville Mardi Gras parade.

EpsteinusedtiestoNobel PeacePrize to entice elites

BY MARK LEWIS Associated Press

STAVANGER, Norway Jeffrey Epstein repeatedlyplayed up his ties to the former head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee in invitations to and chats with elites like Richard Branson, Larry Summers, Bill Gates and Steve Bannon, atop allyofPresidentDonald Trump, the Epstein ﬁles show Thorbjørn Jagland, who headed the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015, turns up hundreds of times in the millions of documents about theformer U.S. ﬁnancier andconvicted sex offender that were released by the U.S. Justice Department last month. Since the release, Jagland, 75, has been charged in Norway for

BY JOHN HANNA and KENDRIA LAFLEUR Associated Press

MALAKOFF,Texas

Some school districts in the U.S. droppedplans for class pictures after widespreadsocial media posts linked abillionaire withtiestoJeffrey Epstein to the photography giant Lifetouch,which on Friday called the claims “completely false.”

The disruption to school picture plans in Texas and elsewhere began after online posts linked Lifetouch, which photographs millions of students each year,tothe investment fund manager Apollo Global Management Apollo’sformerCEO is billionaire investor LeonBlack, who met regularly with Epstein and was advised by Epstein on ﬁnancial matters. Black led the company in 2019, when funds managed by Apollo bought Lifetouch’s parent company,Shutterﬂy

The $2.7 billion deal closed in September 2019 —a month after Epstein’sdeath by suicide behind bars as he awaited trial over allegationsfromfederalprosecutors that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of girls.

Both Lifetouch and Apollo noted that timeline in statementsFriday, twodaysafter Lifetouch CEOKen Murphy said in an Instagrampost that neither Black nor any of Apollo’sdirectors or investorsever had any access to Lifetouch photos.

“No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party,including Apollo,” Lifetouch said in its statement Friday.“Apollo and its funds also have no role in Lifetouch’sdaily operations and have no access to student images.”

The canceled school pictures are another ripple effect over the release of millions of ﬁles from the Epstein investigation, including documents showing Epstein’sregular contacts with CEOs, journalists, scientists and prominent politicians long after a2008 conviction on sex crimes charges.

In the small Texas town of Malakoff, the local school

fered a“unique perspective.”

“aggravated corruption” in connectionwithaninvestigation prompted by information in the ﬁles, theeconomiccrime unit of Norwegian police Økokrim said. Økokrim has said it would investigatewhether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with Jagland’sposition. Itsteams searched his Oslo residence on Thursday,plus two otherproperties in Risør, a coastal town to the south,and in Rauland to the west.

His attorneys at Elden law ﬁrm in Norway said Jagland denies the charges,and was questioned by thepolice unit on Thursday While thereisnoevidence in the

documents seen so farofany outright lobbying for theNobel Peace Prize, Epsteinrepeatedlyplayed up hostingJaglandathis properties in New York and Paris in the 2010s.

In September 2018, during Trump’sﬁrst term andinanapparent allusiontohis interestin thepeace prize, Epstein had avaried text-message exchange with Bannon, at one point writing —in one of many messages with untidy grammar: “donalds head would explode if he knew you were now buds withthe guy who on monday will decide thenobel peace prize.”

“I told himnext year it should be youwhenwesettlechina,” he added, without elaborating.

In oneemail from 2013, mixing in investmenttips andpraise for PR tips, Epstein told British en-

trepreneur and magnate Richard Bransonthat Jagland wouldbe staying with Epstein in September thatyear,adding: “if you are there, youmight ﬁnd him interesting.”

Ayear after she left ajob as White HousecounseltoPresident Barack Obama, in 2015, Kathy Ruemmlergot an email from Epstein saying:“head of nobelpeace prizecoming to visit, want to join?”

In 2012, Epsteinwrote former Treasury Secretary andHarvard University president Larry Summers about Jagland, saying “head of thenobelpeace prize staying with me, if you have any interest.”

In thatexchange, Epsteinreferred to Jagland —also aformer Norwegian primeminister and former head of theCouncil of Europe, ahumanrightsbody—as “notbright” but someone whoof-

The ﬁnancier wrote Bill Gates in 2014, saying that Jagland had been reelected as head of the Council of Europe.

“That is good,” the Microsoftcofounderand formerlythe world’s richest man, wrote. “I guess his peace prize committeejob is also up in the air?”

During Jagland’stenure as chair of thecommittee, it gave thepeace prizetoObama, in 2009,and the European Union in 2012. Jagland wasbrought into Epstein’sorbit by TerjeRød Larsen, aNorwegian diplomat whohelped broker the Oslo Peace Accords between Israel and Palestinians. Larsen and his wife are also facing corruption charges in Norway due to their association with Epstein.

district canceled astudent picture day after several parentstoldthe districtthey weren’t comfortable with Lifetouch photographing their children,spokesperson Katherine Smith said in astatement e-mailed Friday Several other schools and districts in Texasalso canceled or changed plans,as well as acharter school in Arizona, according to Facebookannouncementsposted by theschools.

“Wedecided ourstudents and familieswouldbebest served by keeping all ofour pictures in-house forthe rest of this year,and we are looking at all of our options forthe 2026-2027 school year,”Smith said Parentsconcerned about Lifetouch included MaKallie Gann, whosechildrenattendschools in Howe, about 60 miles north of Dallas. She said shewas worriedabout howmuchinformation Lifetouch collects on students.

“Whenever you order the pictures, it has their name. It has the age, of course. It has their grade, their teacher theschool that they’re in,” she said.

No evidence of Epstein or anyone in his orbit seeing Lifetouchphotos has emerged from news organizations’ review of thousands of documents released this monthbythe U.S. Department of Justice, though there are at least 1.7 million records.

Thereview shows Black’s name appeared8,200 times, though that figure likely includes someduplicate records. Black stepped down as Apollo’s CEO in March 2021, saying he wanted to focus on his family,health, and “manyother interests.”

That wastwo months aftera committeeofthe company’sboard issued areport concludingthat Epstein had advised Black personally on estateplanning,tax issues, charitable giving and running his “family ofﬁce,” but providednoservices to Apollo or invested in no

Jagland

Crownprinceurges worldtostand with people of Iran

About250,000 demonstratein Munich,350,000 in Toronto

BY STANISLAVHODINA Associated Press

MUNICH About 250,000 people demonstrated on Saturday against Iran’sgovernment on the sidelines of agathering of world leaders in Germany,police said, answering acall from Iran ’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for cranked-up international pressureonTehran.

Banging drums and chanting for regime change, the giant and boisterous rally in Munich was partofwhat Pahlavi describedasa “global day of action” to support Iranians in the wake of deadly nationwide protests. He also called for demonstrations in Los Angeles and Toronto.

Policesaid in apost on X that the number of protesters reached some250,000,

more than the organizers had expected. “Change, change, regime

change”the huge crowd chanted, wavinggreenwhite-and-red flags with

lion andsun emblems. Iran used that ﬂag before its 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Pahlavi dynasty

At anews conference, Pahlavi warned of more deaths in Iran if “democracies stand by and watch” following Iran’sdeadly crackdownonprotesters last month.

“Wegatheratanhourof profound peril to ask: Will the world stand with the people of Iran?” he asked.

He added that the survival of Iran’sgovernment “sends aclear signal to every bully: kill enough people and you stay in power.”

An estimated 350,000 people marched on the streets of Torontoaspartofthe Global Day of Action Rally, Toronto Police spokesperson Laura Brabant said.

At theMunich rally,demonstrators sported “Make Iran Great Again” red caps, mimicking the MAGA caps worn by U.S. President DonaldTrump’ssupporters.

Among those sporting the caps wasU.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, aRepublican from South Carolina whogave a speech to the crowd during whichhewas photographed holding up the headwear

Many at therally waved placards showing Pahlavi, somethat called him aking. The sonofIran’sdeposed shah has been in exile for nearly 50 years but is trying to position himself as a player in Iran’sfuture.

The crowd chanted “Pahlavi for Iran,” and “democracy forIran” as drumsand cymbals sounded.

“Wehave huge hopes and (are) looking forward that the regimeisgoing to change hopefully,” said Daniyal Mohtashamian, a demonstrator who traveled from Zurich, in Switzerland, to speak for protesters inside Iran who faced repression.

“There is an internet blackout, andtheir voices are not going outside of Iran,” he said.

BY AMIR-HUSSEIN RADJY Associated Press

CAIRO— The Iranian security agents came at 2a.m., pulling up in ahalf-dozen cars outside the home of the Nakhii family.They woke up the sleeping sisters, Nyushaand Mona,and forced them to givethe passwords for their phones. Then they took the two away The women were accused of participating in the nationwide protests that shook Iran aweek earlier, afriendofthe pair told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity for her security as she described theJan.16 arrests. Such arrests have been happening for weeks following the government crackdown last month that crushed the protests calling forthe end of the country’stheocratic rule. Reports of raids on homes and workplaces havecome from major cities and rural towns alike, revealing adragnet thathas touched large swaths of Iranian

society University students, doctors, lawyers, teachers, actors, business owners,athletesand ﬁlmmakers have been swept up, as well as reformist ﬁgures close to President Masoud Pezeshkian.

They are often held incommunicado for days or weeks and prevented from contacting family members or lawyers, according to activists monitoring the arrests. Thathas left desperate relatives searching for their loved ones.

TheU.S.-based HumanRights Activists News Agency has put the number of arrests at more than 50,000. TheAPhas been unable to verify the figure. Trackingthe detainees has been difficult since Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout, and reports leak out only with difficulty

Otheractivist groupsoutside Iran have alsobeen working to document the sweeps.

“Authorities continue to identify peopleand detainthem,” said Shiva Nazarahari,anorganizer with

one of those groups, the Committee forMonitoring the Status of Detained Protesters.

So far, thecommittee hasveriﬁed the names of more than2,200 people who were arrested, using direct reportsfrom families and a networkofcontactsonthe ground. The arrestees include 107 universitystudents, 82 children as young as 13, as well as 19 lawyers and 106 doctors.

Nazarahari said authorities have been reviewing municipal street cameras, store surveillance cameras and drone footage to track people whoparticipatedinthe protests to theirhomes or places of work, where they are arrested.

The protests began in late December,triggered by anger over spiraling prices,and quicklyspread across thecountry.Theypeaked on Jan. 8and 9, when hundreds of thousands of people in more than 190citiesand townsacrossthe country took to thestreets

Security forces responded by unleashing unprecedented vio-

lence. TheHuman Rights Activists News Agency hassofar counted morethan 7,000 dead and says the true number is farhigher.Iran’s governmentoffered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. The theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi, ahard-line cleric whoheads Iran’s judiciary,became the face of the crackdown, labeling protesters “terrorists”and callingfor fasttracked punishments. Since then, “detentions have been very widespread because it’slikea wholesuffocation of society,” said one protester,reached by the AP in Gohardasht, amiddleclass area outside the Iranian capital. He said twoofhis relativesand three of hisbrother’sfriends were killedinthe ﬁrst days of the crackdown, as well as several neighbors.

The Nakhii sisters, 25-year-old Nyusha and 37-year-old Mona, were ﬁrst taken to Tehran’snotorious Evin prison, where they were

allowed to contact their parents, their friend said. Later,she said, they were moved to Qarchak, a women’sprison on the outskirts of Tehran where rights groups reported conditions that included overcrowding and lack of hygiene even before the crackdown. Despite thecrackdown,many civic groups continue to issue deﬁant statements.

Anational council representing schoolteachers urged families to speak out about detained children andstudents. “Do notfear the threats of security forces. Refer to independent counsel. Make your children’snames public,” it said in astatement.

Aspokesmanfor thecouncil said Sunday that it has documented the deaths of at least 200 minors who werekilledinthe crackdown. That ﬁgure is up several dozen from the count just days before.

“Every day we tell ourselves this is the last list,” Mohammad Habibi wrote on X. “But thenextmorning, new names arrive again.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EBRAHIMNOROOZI

Supporters of Iran’sexiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi attend ademonstration Saturday duringthe MunichSecurityConference in Munich, Germany.

States reliant on Colorado River miss deadline on deal

By The Associated Press

PHOENIX The seven Western states that depend on the Colorado River missed a deadline for the second time Saturday to agree on a plan addressing record drought and water shortages.

Arizona Gov Katie Hobbs, California Gov Gavin Newsom and Nevada Gov Joe Lombardo released a joint statement calling on Upper Basin states to offer more concessions. Those states include Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

“The Colorado River is essential to our communities and economies, and our states have conserved large volumes of water in recent years to stabilize the basin’s water supplies for years to come,” the governors said “Our stance remains firm and fair: All seven basin states must share in the responsibility of conservation.”

Arizona, California and Nevada have offered to decrease Colorado River allocation by 27%, 10% and 17%, respectively, according to those states.

Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper, who helped negoti-

ate a river contingency plan in 2019 as governor, called the situation in the Colorado Basin “dire,” pointing to the state’s low snowpack.

“If we don’t address this problem together headon and fast — our communi-

Mistrial declared for Stanford pro-Palestinian protesters

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO A judge declared a mistrial Friday in the case of ﬁve current and former Stanford University students charged after proPalestinian protests in 2024, when they barricaded themselves inside the university president and provost executive ofﬁces.

The trial in Santa Clara County was a rare instance of demonstrators facing felony charges from protests over the Israel-Hamas war that roiled campuses across the country The two sides argued over free speech, lawful dissent and crime during the three-week proceedings.

The jury voted 9-3 to convict on a felony charge of vandalism and 8-4 to convict on a felony charge of conspiracy to trespass. After deliberating for five days, jurors said they could not reach a verdict.

Judge Hanley Chew asked each one if more time deliberating would help break the impasse, and all answered, “No.” “It appears that this jury is hopelessly deadlocked, and

I’m now declaring a mistrial in counts one and two,” Chen said. He then dismissed the jurors.

Demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the ofﬁces for several hours on June 5, 2024, the last day of spring classes at the university.

Prosecutors said the defendants spray-painted the building, broke windows and furniture, disabled security cameras and splattered a red liquid described as fake blood on items throughout the ofﬁces.

Defense attorneys said the protest was protected speech and there was insufﬁcient evidence of an intent to damage the property

They also said the students wore protective gear and barricaded the offices out of fear of being injured by police and campus security If convicted, the defendants would have faced up to three years in prison and been obligated to pay restitution of over $300,000.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said he would pursue a new trial. “This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s prop-

erty and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” Rosen said in a statement “That is against the law and that is why we will retry the case.”

As the mistrial was announced, the students, some wearing kafﬁyehs, sat on a bench in the courtroom and did not show a visible reaction.

“The District Attorney’s Ofﬁce had Stanford University supporting them and other multibillion-dollar institutions behind them, and even then the district attorney was unable to convict us,” Germán González, who was a sophomore at Stanford when he was arrested, told The Associated Press by phone later “No matter what happens, we will continue to ﬁght tooth and nail for as long as possible, because at the end of the day, this is for Palestine.”

Authorities initially arrested and charged 12 people in the case, but one pleaded no contest under an agreement that allows some young people to have their cases dismissed and records sealed if they successfully complete probation.

Viral AI-generated video shakes Hollywood

BY CERYS DAVIES Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES A viral AIgenerated video of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise ﬁghting atop a building is causing a stir online.

The 15-second video comes from the latest AI video-generation platform, Seedance 2.0. The platform was launched this week by its owner, ByteDance, the same Chinese parent that oversees TikTok. As the video circulates online, the Motion Picture Association and other industry stakeholders have called out the video for

its unauthorized use of copyrighted works. MPA’s CEO, Charles Rivkin, wrote in a statement that the company “should immediately cease its infringing activity.”

“In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S copyrighted works on a massive scale,” wrote Rivkin. “ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs.”

The video was posted on X by Irish ﬁlmmaker Ruairi

Robinson. His post said the 15-second video came from a two-line prompt he put into Seedance 2.0.

Rhett Reese, writer/producer of movies like the “Deadpool” trilogy and “Zombieland,” responded to Robinson’s post, writing, “I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”

He goes on to say that soon people will be able to sit at a computer and create a movie “indistinguishable from what Hollywood now releases.”

Reese says he’s fearful of losing his job as increasingly powerful AI tools advance into creative ﬁelds.

ties, farms, and economies will suffer The best path forward is the one we take together Litigation won’t solve the problem of this long-term aridification,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. John Entsminger, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, also expressed frustration at the lack of progress.

“The actions we have taken over the past two-plus decades are less about raising Lake Mead’s elevation than they are about protecting ourselves if things go from bad to worse,” Entsminger said in a statement.

The states previously let pass a November deadline set by the U.S Bureau of Reclamation to devise a strategy to face water shortages after this year when current guidelines will expire.

Over 40 million people

across these states along with Mexico and Native American tribes rely on Colorado River water The river is crucial to farming as well as water and electricity for millions of homes and businesses. Much of the water starts out as winter mountain snowfall in the Upper Basin, which amasses far more that way than it consumes. Lower Basin states, including agriculture-heavy regions, are bigger consumers.

Major cities including Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles are also big water consumers. Chronic overuse, drought and rising temperatures linked to climate change have lessened water ﬂows.

How the water is allocated — especially in dry spells — and conserved has been the center of agreements among the states for decades. The original 1922 Colorado Riv-

er Compact was calculated based on water amounts that doesn’t exist today, especially with the long-term drought.

The current round of negotiations among states have been going on over two years. If no consensus can be reached, the federal government could step in and devise a plan that leaves parties dissatisfied and could even result in litigation. Scientists recently found snow cover and snow depth in the West are at their lowest in decades. Some areas have seen their warmest December through early February Normally, snow cover this time of year spans 460,000 square miles — about the size of California, Utah, Idaho and Montana But, this year it is only California-sized, about 155,000 square miles, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center

Whenweather forecasterswarnedofdaysof sub-freezing temperatures andpossiblewinter precipitationlastmonth,residentsatTheVincent Senior Living didn’t have to wonder what would happennext.Trainedstaffmemberswerealready puttingemergency plansintomotion– checking supplies,reviewingproceduresandensuringevery residentwould remain safe andcomfortable Emergencypreparednessisn’t somethingThe Vincent treats as aseasonalconcern.Instead it’s ayear-roundpriority.

“Wereviewcomponentsofour emergency plan monthlyand make updateswhenneededto ensure ongoingreadiness,” said Cody Begnaud, TheVincent’s Executive Director.“We maintain open linesofcommunication with theLouisiana Department of Health andreportour emergency preparedness status on amonthly basis. The full emergencyplanisreviewedand updated annually.”

Whilewinterweatherrecentlytookcenter stage, TheVincent staff is nowshiftingtheir focustowardspringthunderstorms,summer heat andhurricane season –all part of living in SouthLouisiana’s volatile climate. Begnaud shared more detailsabout howthe community workstokeepresidents safe andatease, no matter what theweatherbrings. What aresome specificwaysThe Vincentprepares forpotential severe weather?

Preparationbeginswithclearcommunication protocolsandearlymonitoringofweathersystems Thecommunity maintainsemergency supplies on-site, includingbottled water, non-perishable food,ﬂashlights,batteriesandﬁrst-aidresources. Multiplecommunicationchannels,includingcell phones,radiosandinternalmessagingplatforms ensure staff cancommunicate effectively even if traditionalsystems aredisrupted.Wealso review staff assignments, response rolesand supply inventoriesinadvance of stormseason to ensure readiness beforeanevent occurs Howdoyou plan forpotential poweroutages affectingThe Vincent? In eventofa poweroutage, TheVincent immediatelyactivates ouremergency power plan.The community is equipped with a generatorthatsuppliesemergency powerto critical systems, includingemergency lighting designated outletsand refrigerationunits for food andperishablemedications.Thisensures residentsafety, preservesfoodand medication integrityand allows essentialoperationsto continue.Leadershipand maintenanceteams remain on-sitetomonitor powersystemsand coordinate restorationefforts as needed

Howdoyou ensure residentsremaincomfortable andsafeduringanextendedpower outage?

TheVincent establishestemperature-controlledsafezones within thecommunity to maintain comfortablelivingconditions. Mealsare prepared andservedasscheduled Structured activities andentertainment areprovidedtohelpmaintainroutine and reduce stress. Ourstaff increase thenumber of residentchecksand maintain frequent communication, ensuring residentsfeel supported, informedand caredfor throughout thedurationofthe event. Arethere specificemergencyplans or proceduresfor Memory Care residents?

Yes, specialconsiderations areinplace forMemory Care residents. Theseinclude maintainingfamiliarroutines, minimizing environmentalchanges andproviding consistent caregiverpresence. Theseprocedures aredesignedtoreduceconfusion andanxiety whileensuringsafetyinemergency situations Howdoyou keep residents’families updated during weather events or emergencies? Communicationwithfamiliesisa keypart of TheVincent’s emergencyresponse. We shareupdates throughsocialmedia platforms andinternalcommunication systemssuch as Caremergeand ScreenCloud.Inaddition, we host resident councilmeetingstoreview emergencyplans in person andaddress questionsdirectly. Thesemultiplecommunication channels ensure families remain informed reassuredand connectedthroughoutanevent Howdoesthe staffhelpresidents stay calm during thesetypeofstressful situations? Staffmembers receivemonthly training andeducation on emergencypreparedness, includingscenario-basedresponses.Maintainingopenlines of communication, offering reassurance andpreservingfamiliarroutines help residentsremaincalm. Allofour staff membersare trainedtobevisible,attentive and supportive,providing emotionalreassurance whileaddressingindividualresidentneeds with patience andcompassion. TheVincent Senior Living hasIndependent Living,AssistedLivingand Memory Care optionsfor senior citizens.Available services

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ROSS D FRANKLIN

The Colorado River in the Upper Basin is seen May 29, 2021, in Lees Ferry, Ariz., near the Utah border

Love in theair forValentine’s DayatWinterOlympics

BY FERNANDA FIGUEROA and JENNIFERMCDERMOTT

Associated Press

MILAN— At the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, winning medals isn’tthe only thingmaking hearts swell. From the ice rinks to the snowy hills, love is in the frozen air. Some competitions alreadyseem to have Cupid in attendance.

Dutch skater Jutta Leerdam set an Olympic record in the 1000-meter race, then turned to find her fiancé Jake Paul in the stands; both visibly weeping, they made heart signs to one another with their hands. And downhill skiing champion Breezy Johnson‘s longtime boyfriend proposed to hernear the finish line Thursday while surrounded by membersofthe U.S. Ski Team.

Valentine’sDay for athletes and attendees at the Games doesn’t usually meangrand gestures, but it’snoless special.

CompetingonValentine’s Day

Valentine’sDay was thefinals for the women’sskeletonevent.

That means that Kim Meylemans of Belgium and Nicole Rocha Silveira of Brazil —aninternational couple who play for their separate national teams —will be too busy for aromantic dinner.They told The Associated Press they didn’t even bring gifts to exchange. But since they aretogether all the time, “It’salways abit of aValentine’sDay,” Meylemanssaid.“It is part of our sport every day, our love.”

The two feel fortunatetheir nationalOlympiccommittees arranged for them to bunk together at Cortina d’Ampezzo’sOlympic village, since typically only teammatesshare housing. Half their room is decorated for Belgium, the other half Brazil

Rocha Silveira wasnew to the sport in 2019 when Meylemans was already competing inWorld Cup races. They fell inloveduring the pandemic while sharingshortterm rentals, since many hotels closed.

Fast forward to 2024, and they unknowinglyboughtidentical engagement rings and planned proposals for the same boat trip in Brazil while on vacation. They married last August. When they compete, they high-

ﬁve and kiss before each run, wishingthe other well “It doesn’tmatter which one is on the podium.Atthe endofthe day,it’savictory for our team,” Meylemans said. RochaSilveira saidit’simportant theirrelationship appearsduring these Games in Italy,where samesex marriages aren’trecognized and onlymarriedheterosexual couples are allowed to jointly adopt. It’sagreat place to “show it even more,” and “encourage and inspire people that they can be themselves,” shesaid.

Volunteervalentines

Lori andCurtisBrown have been married for over 30 years and will be spendValentine’sDay at the skating arena where theyare volunteering forthisyear’sWinter Olympics.

About 18,000 volunteers are spread across the venues in northern Italy —asea of navy blue uniforms keeping theOlympics running around theclock, with duties such as giving directions,accompanying athletes to venues, crowd

control and medical support.

Curtis,60, said neitherofthem hadrealizedtheywerescheduled to work. Now,they’re hoping they can coincide their breakstohave dinner together,perhaps surrounded by the rest of the volunteers, he joked.

“This is themost specialValentine’s Dayofour lives,”Curtissaid. “Because we’reboth here, we’re bothonthe samepage, we’re both enjoying this adventure together.”

While presentsare neither’slove language, Lori,61, told the AP she bought boxer briefs from theofﬁcial Milan Cortinasouvenirstore. Curtishadn’tboughtanything for her “It’snot so much aboutgiftgiving, just going out and doing something together,” said Lori, 61. She spoke while sitting beside Curtis, so perhaps she’ll be surprised on Saturday

Canadian pair hasdateonice Canadian hockey forward Laura Stacey and her wife, team captain Marie-Philip Poulin, had adifferentkindofdate: playing Germany’s

team in the quarterﬁnals in Milan.

“Wehavea game, we have a big game, so spending it together We’re pretty lucky,” Stacey said. “Most people don’t gettodowhat they love, chasing their dreams together,and we do. So Ithink on February 14th, Ithink it’simportantfor us to just appreciate that and not take it forgranted.”

Aside from taking on Germany, they didn’thave plans —but Stacey said they will surely at least give each other cards.

OtherOlympian couples

Many other couplesare at the Olympics, someteammates and others competing against each other

n The record-breaking face of theU.S.women’shockey team, Hilary Knight, is in Milan with her girlfriend Brittany Bowe, aspeedskater from the U.S. skating team

On Saturday,she posted aphoto of apink,heart-shapedcarabineron her Instagram.

n American ﬁgure skaters Madison Chockand Evan Bates were married in 2024 andwon asilver

medal on Wednesday n U.S. bobsledding hasa power couple withreigning women’s monobloc world champion Kaysha Love engagedtomen’s push athlete Hunter Powell. She’sin the Olympics for the second time, while he’smaking his debut.

n U.S. Alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin —that sport’s all-time wins leader —isengaged to Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, whoreturned to racing this season after dealing with major injuries.

n Italy’sluge team Dominik Fischnallerand theU.S.’sEmily Sweeney married last year after dating foralmost 15 years.

n Latvia’slugeteam includes the husband-and-wife pair of Martins Bots and Elina Bota, both single sliders.

n Curling may have the most well-known couples of any sport. Norway’sMagnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien have been togethersince2008 andwon bronze in Pyeongchang. JocelynPetermanand Brett Gallant of Canada marriedin2022and were favorites this year.There areSwitzerland’s Yannick Schwaller and Briar Schwalller-Huerlimann, too; they brought theirbabyand photos of him carrying acurling broom twice his size went viral. He looked like acurling Cupid. McDermott reported from Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Associated Press writer John Wawrow in Milan contributed to this report.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByJACQUELyN MARTIN

United States’ Breezy Johnson, right, and fiancee

AP PHOTO By FATIMA SHBAIR Switzerland’syannick Schwaller and Briar Schwaller-Huerlimann kissFeb.8 during the mixed doubles round robinphase of the curlingcompetition against Britain at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Trumphas unprecedentedsum of $1.5Binpolitical funds

Howhechooses to spenditcould rock themidterms

BY WILL WEISSERT and BRIAN SLODYSKO Associated Press

WASHINGTON President DonaldTrump hasbragged about building apolitical war chest exceeding $1.5 billion —astaggering sum that he can wield at his whim to shape November’smidterms and the 2028 race to succeed him.

Trump’sstockpile —which dwarfs any amounts raised by his predecessors in their second terms —isnot easy to precisely calculate given that much of it is being collected by groups that aren’t required to file regularfinancial disclosures.

Currentand former staffers, as well as others in Trump’sorbit, wouldn’tsay exactly where his political bank account stands six months after thepresident announced on social media that he’d raised, just since Election Day 2024, “in various forms and political entities, in excess of 1.5 Billion Dollars.”

But what is not in question is that it represents a mountain of cash thatcould reshape Republican politics for years to come —ifhe chooses. He’sbeen reluctant to spendmoney on other people’sraces in the past, and he’seven found ways to funnel some cash to his own businesses.

The $1.5 billion Trump claimed is roughly equal to what he and outside groups spent on his successful 2024 reelection bid, according to OpenSecrets,anonpartisan group that tracks political spending.

By comparison, Democratic President Joe Biden’s various super PACs, political groups andnonprofits as well as the Democratic National Committee, raised roughly $97 million during his first year in office, according to public disclosures. That’sonly about 7% of Trump’stotal, and Biden was gearing up for areelection run Trump isn’tallowed to make.

“I think alot of people are asking, ‘What is it all for?’” said Saurav Ghosh, federal campaign finance reform director at the Washington nonprofit Campaign Legal Center Midterms andbeyond

People close to Trump say the main benefit of all that cash is unmatched influence heading into November They insist Trump is eager to help Republicans so his politicalagendaisn’t stymied, like when Democratic victories derailedhis firsttermagenda after 2018’s midterms. His stockpilehas helped the GOP build asizable cash advantage over Democrats ahead of November,atleast so far

“One of the main reasons a lame-duck president might want to amass this much money is to maintain political relevance,” said Daniel Wein-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

President DonaldTrump’sstockpile of fundsdwarfs any amounts raised by his predecessors in their second terms.

er,aformer Federal Election Commissionattorneyand current director of theBrennan Center’sElectionsand Government Program.“Certainly he’sbeen far more aggressive about this than any of hispredecessors.”

Trump last week vowed political consequences for Republicans opposing his tariff policies, and could spend big to hurt them in GOP primaries.Chief among histargetsisKentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who opposed Trump’stax and spend package and deﬁed theWhite Houseinhelpingforce therelease of federal ﬁles on Jeffrey Epstein

Trump hasalso endorsed aprimary opponent ofSen Bill Cassidy, R-BatonRouge, after hevoted to convict Trump during his2021 impeachment trial over the mobattack on the U.S.Capitol. Still, the extenttowhich Trump will open his pocketbookincongressional races remains to be seen

“WhatI’m alittle surprised about is that Trump hasnot leveraged —atleast overtly —the money he controlsgoing into thatelectiononhis congressionalagenda,” said Jason Roe, aRepublican strategist in Michigan

Indeed, Trump has ahistory of notspending big on races where he isn’t running. In 2018, Trump’s America FirstActionsuper PACspent lessthan $30 million —apittance given that super PACs spentabout $820 millionthatcycle,accordingtoOpenSecrets.

He doesn’talwaysfollowthrough on his threats, either.Despitepledging to travel to Alaska to help defeat Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski in 2022,a Trump-afﬁliated PACinstead gave $1.5 million to agroup opposingher.Murkowski was reelected anyway

Thepresidentalsohas made no majormoves so far to oppose statelawmakers in Indianawho refused toback newcongressional maps championed bythe White House.

Trump’scampaignbank account also would let him play adecisive role in the next presidential race. Vice President JD Vanceand SecretaryofState Marco Rubio are the early favorites, with Trump suggesting pairing them on aGOP ticket he says would be formidable.

‘A slushfund’

Much of Trump’spolitical cash comes from the MAGA Inc. super PAC, which raised $100-plus million in the last six months of 2025 and entered this year with more than $300 million.The Republican National Committee reported raising $172 million last year

There’salsoa constellation of pro-Trump nonproﬁts, includingSecuringAmerican Greatness, which are only requiredtorelease limited information abouttheir finances. Donations toone Trumpentitycan be moved through thevarious nonprofits and super PACs, making it difficult to track what’s spent where.

“Becausethereare virtually no restrictions on what superPAC money can be usedfor,itessentially can be operated as aslush fund at the disposalofwhoever controls it,” Weiner said.

There are manyways Trumphas used political funds to enrichhis businesses in the past, including billing his campaign for the use of his own airplane.Hecould also stage political events at his properties in Floridaor New Jersey,orhis golf club outside Washington.

At least $26 millionhas been spent by conservative groups and Republican committees at Trump properties since 2015—and theactual ﬁgure is likely highersince some groups don’thave to offer detailed spending ﬁgures.

Though federal rules govern thewayspolitical donations can be spent, they canalsobeskirted.In2020, Trump’scampaign paid tens of millionsofdollars to limited liability companies controlled by aides, amove that

satisﬁedfederal disclosure rules, but masked the ultimate recipient of the money In 2024, hispolitical operation clawed back millionsof dollarsindonations it made to asuperPAC supporting Trump’srun andused the moneytoinstead pay legal bills that mounted after his indictments in fourfederal criminal cases while also facing civil trials

“As with so many things Donald Trump, he is sometimes pushing theenvelope on what’s permitted, sometimes blowing right through what arepretty clear legal limits,” said Ghosh, of the Campaign Legal Center Who’shelping Trump

Trump’sfundraising effortsare tireless. The day after his 2024 election win, he ordered stafftobegin fundraisinganew,and he’s since attended frequent fundraisers. His allies send out emails seeking donations constantly,often multiple times daily

“I’m sitting here.Alone. In the war room. Fightingfor you,” Trump wrote in onesuchmessage last month.Inanother,aTrumpafﬁliated group tried to spur on donors to give by asking, “Does ICE need to come and track you down?”

During his ﬁrst presidential run, Trumpreliedheavily on small donations. But much of his operation now reliesonlarge checks from uber-wealthy donors and well-connected businesses.

Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, andhis wife,

Anna, donated $25 million to MAGAInc. last year,as

Trumptalked constantly abouthelping ensure U.S. companies dominate the artificial intelligence field globally

Other big donations came fromcrypto interests that have hadfederal investigations dropped and big tobacco companies hoping to ease regulations.

The parents of Howard Brodie, Trump’sambassador

to Finland, donated $500,000 to MAGAInc., while Isabela Herrera gave $3.5 million beforeher father, Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini, was pardoned by Trumponbribery charges.

“Each of these wealthy individuals. corporations, theyare ponying up fora purpose,” Ghosh said. “What we’re seeing withTrump’s administration is just an unprecedented level of pay-toplay.”

When RichardNelsonthinks aboutthe powerof education, hismindgoesbacktoAPCalculusclass at Mandeville High School

Histeacher,Ms. FanDisher, waswell-regarded as oneofthe topcalculusteachersinthe nation.Every studentwho passed throughher classroomearned atop scoreonthe AP exam,securing collegecredits andsavingtuition dollarsbeforeeversteppingfoot on acampus.

“ItamazesmewhenI thinkabout theimpactshe hadonsomanystudents. Hermotivationand drive wassecondtonone. It remindsmeofhow teachers cantruly make adifference andcreate arippleeffect fortheir students,” Nelson said That earlyfoundationshapedNelson’spathinto biological engineering, andlater,intolaw,politicsand stateleadership.Ashebeginshis newroleaspresident of theLouisiana Communityand TechnicalCollege System (LCTCS), he sees educationnot as an abstract ideal, butasa practicalenginefor economic mobility forLouisiana citizens “I seeLCTCS as thesystem that connects thegaps betweenskills, population andemployers. Ourjob is to make sure thestate hasa highly-educatedworkforce thatmatchesbusinessneeds.Thenumberonepurpose forustoget people into high-payingjobs,”Nelsonsaid. “Wewantpeopletowalkout of ourinstitutionswith adegreeorcredentialthatwillleadtothemhavinga better life.”

presidenttothe sherifftothe governor.Everybody hastoberowinginthe same direction. As he hasseenthe implementation of newpolicies to strengthen thestate’s economic landscape, he has been ﬁlledwithpride andoptimism.

Nelson arrivesatLCTCS during what he callsone of themostpivotal momentsinLouisiana’s modern history. Billions of dollarsineconomicdevelopment projects have been announcedinrecent months encompassing industries such as information technology,manufacturing,energy, transportation andmore. Nelson said theseinvestments areexpected to generate at least70,000 to 80,000 newjobsacross Louisiana–manyofwhich will requireanassociate degree or technicalcredentials “Wewantthe citizens of Louisianatobeneﬁtfrom theseinvestments.Ourgoalistoconnectourcitizensto thesenewjobopportunities,”Nelsonsaid.“Asasystem, wealreadyhavedeepconnectionswithmanyemployers, andeachLCTCS institutionhas collaborations with industriesintheirregion.Wewanttostrengthenthose tiesandbuildnewonesasmorecompaniescometoour state. We know theseemployers will need people.It’s just as important, if notmoreso, than infrastructure andutilities.Wehavetobeabletoprovide thehuman resources they need.” With priorexperience as adiplomatwiththe U.S. ForeignService,aLouisiana staterepresentativeand theSecretaryoftheLouisianaDepartmentofRevenue, Nelson brings awidelenstohis newrole. He haslived andworkedall over theworld,but hispulltoLouisiana always remained strong “Everythingisconnected in Louisiana. This is a statethatisbuilt on relationships,”Nelsonsaid. “I’m gratiﬁed to have builtalot of connectionswithparish officials, lawenforcement leadersand school board membersacrossLouisiana.Thosekindsofrelationships arecrucial to success. Systemic projects like theones we areseeinginLouisiana take involvementfrom everyone from thecouncilmantothe school board

“The discussion fora long time wasabout how to keep kids in Louisiana. Now, that discussion has changedintohow to getLouisiana kids into these jobs before people from otherstatesmovein. That’s an exciting conversation to have,” Nelson said.“We’re seeing rapidchanges in economic investment,the tax code andinsurance regulations. As theeffects of these continue to be felt,it’sgoing to completely change the future of thestate.” Nelson said he believes the12LCTCS institutions arewell-positioned to play akey role in that future During hisvisitstocampusesinrecentmonths, he’s beenimpressed by thetop-tier facultyand advanced technology systemsthatare in placetoprepare and trainstudents forlucrative careers. Witnessing that work across thestate hashelpedNelsondeﬁne several keyprioritiesaspresident—among them ensuring that each institutionhas theresources to meet studentand workforcedemands andsimplifying pathways for students to geta degree or certiﬁcation

“Ifyou’reahighschoolstudent whowants to take classesatanLCTCS college, thereshouldbea straightforwardwaytodothat.Ifyou’reaworkingparent whowants to getyourdegree, thereshouldbeenough optionsforyoutodothat.Ifyouwanttogetabachelor’s degree aftercompletingyourLCTCS education, those creditsshouldtransfereasily,”Nelsonsaid. “I want to help cleara path andstreamlinethose processes. With strong programs,accessibility,affordability andwell-paying jobsready to be filledclose to home Nelson said he believes thefutureisbrightfor the people of Louisiana. Over thenextfew years, he hopes to grow LCTCS’ overallenrollmentand elevatethe state’sreputationasonethatproduceshighly-qualified graduateswho areready forthe workforce. “The status quoisabsolutelynot whyI’m here,” he said.“Iswing forthe fences.You aimfor thebestideal solutionandthenfilteritthroughthepoliticalrealities Iunderstandthateverythinghas to be ajoint effort. There’snothing Ican do alone, andIfeelthatwehave agoodfoundationtobuild

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Criticssay voting bill wouldsuppressLouisiana voters

Johnsonsayssurvey shows84% areOK with showing ID

WASHINGTON —Upon returning to Capitol Hill aweek from now,the U.S.Senate faces another Housepassed bill that adds stringent new requirements for voters in this fall’scongressional midterm elections.

The latest version, called the SafeguardAmerican VoterEligibility Act, or SAVE America Act, cleared the House Wednesday on a218-213 vote in which only one representative crossed partylines.

Louisiana’sfour Republican representatives voted for the measure and thetwo Democratic House members against.

The bill would require registrants to present acertiﬁed birth certiﬁcate, passport or other documentation to prove citizenship when they register to vote. Voters in all 50 states would be required, as Louisiana already does, to show government-issued photo IDs at the polls. And election workers could face criminal charges for failingtofollow the rules.

The bill would go into effect upon the president’ssignature andthus impact November’scongressional midterm elections.

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Republicans don’thave “anywhere close” to enough votes to overcome the procedural hurdles needed to pass the bill, and Democratsare uniformly opposed.

Democrats say the requirements would create so many obstacles that millionswould become disenfranchised.

The Brennan Center for Justice, anonpartisan but progressive-leaningpublic policy institute in New York, says its researchshows more than 21 mil-

Kennedycalls for Krewe of Carrollton prosecutions

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, reads notes before speaking about the SAVE America Acttoreporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday.

lionAmericans lack ready access to those documentsand another 2.6 million don’thave agovernment photo ID.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,D-N.Y., likened theprocedures tothe literacy tests and poll taxes of the segregation era.

“It’sJim Crow 2.0,” he said. Republicans argue the bill would restore conﬁdence in the electoral process by ensuring only U.S. citizens cast ballots.

“They’retalkingabout voter suppression,” House Majority LeaderSteve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said of Democratic criticsafter

the House vote. “Try getting on an airplane and ﬂying home tonight without showing apicture ID.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton,pointed to aGallup survey that showed 84% of Americans were OK with showing photoIDs and 83% with proving citizenship at registration

“Weare encouraging all of our SenateRepublican colleagues who believe in thisjustaswedo, to try to get this thing through thesystem,” Johnsonsaid at a news conference after the House vote. “We’re hoping that some Democrats in the Senate will

come to their senses and do the right thing forthe people.Otherwise, they gota lotofexplaining to do, as we saydowninthe South.”

Ashley Shelton, who leadsthe New Orleans-basedvoting rights group Power Coalitionfor Equality& Justice, said she hasan explanation. Voting is alreadyillegal for noncitizens, she noted to start. Registrantsalreadyare open to perjury charges if theylie about theircitizenship. Andnoevidenceexists showing signiﬁcantnoncitizen voting.

Only 79 noncitizens have voted in Louisiana elections since the 1980s,a Louisiana Secretaryof State’s audit found in September

The real issue forLouisiana voters is that so few— only 29.1% have apassport. And if Louisiana is like the national estimates, then 1out of 10 have no access to their birth certificates, she said. Many voters already registered—those who move or need to altertheir registration —are going to need to find that birth certificateortheir passport or apply fornew ones. Married voters who took their spouse’s last name will need birth and marriage certificates along with otherdocumentation to prove their current last name

The resulting complicated, expensive andtime-consuming procedure could becometoo burdensome formany in astate where annualpay is well below the nationalaverage and where the poverty rate is well above, she said.

“In astate like Louisiana, where we alreadyhavelow turnout, we’re going to seeeven lowervoter registration,” Sheltonsaid.

The Secretary of State’sOfﬁce showsthe 2.96 million registered voters on Feb. 1isthe lowest for February since 2019. Louisiana has about 3.5 million people 18 years or older,the legal voting age.

Louisiana SecretaryofState Nancy Landry’sofﬁce cited ongoing litigation in refusing to address the speciﬁcsofhow the SAVE AmericaAct would impact Louisiana voters. The state was suedinBaton Rouge’s federal districtcourt afterthe Legislature approveda law requiring proof of citizenship whenregistering.

“Louisiana hasbeen ranked as oneofthe topstates in the nation when it comes to the integrity of its elections,” herofﬁce said in a statement.

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, RMadisonville,said in aspeechon the Senate ﬂoor that the “knuckleheads” in the Krewe of Carrollton who are accused of aggressively throwing objects at police ofﬁcers should be prosecuted.

“I want to choose my words carefully here because Ilove Louisiana,” Kennedy said in the speech Wednesday. “But sometimes some of my people do dumb things. We’reall human. And something justhappened at Mardi Gras that turned my stomach.” Krewe organizers said 41 people were removed from afloat midway through the parade. The NewOrleans Police Department said “beads were intentionally thrown from the float in an aggressive manner toward officers along the parade route.”

“It’sembarrassingfor me to have to saythis, that this happened in my state and my city,but it did,” Kennedy said in his speech.

If investigators conﬁrm that thepeople intentionally targeted theofﬁcers, the consequences should be moreseverethan just aban on riding,Kennedy said.

secretary,effective Feb. 2, according to arelease.

“They need to prosecute, and people in New Orleans needtodemand it,” Kennedy said. “Actshave consequences, and you don’t have the right to hurt cops just because you don’t like them.”

Landry names new juvenile justice leader

Anew leader is heading up Louisiana’sjuvenile justice system after Kenny Loftin,who headed the Ofﬁce of Juvenile Justice for two years, retired, ofﬁcials said.

In January,Gov.Jeff Landry appointed Courtney Myers, a former prosecutor in East Baton Rouge Parish,asOJJ’sdeputy

As deputysecretary, Myers now oversees the entire agency,which is an arm of theDepartment of Public Safety& Corrections.

The release says Myers previously headed up the juvenile section of the East Baton Rouge district attorney’sofﬁce. She joined theOJJ in January 2023, serving as an assistant secretary to Loftin.

“Courtney Myers has been a great Assistant Secretary at OJJ, and Iamconﬁdent she will continue her strong track record now serving as DeputySecretary of YouthServices,”Landry said in a statement.“She is aproven leader who will work tirelessly to reform and improve our State’sjuvenile justice system.”

Loftin had always planned to retire after acouple of years, said stateSen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, who works on juvenile justice legislation. She praised his work at theagency Cloud said that “this is thebest

run that I’ve ever seen OJJ” have during her timeinthe Legislature.

“It’s reﬂective in the secretaries,” she added. “Webrought Kenny Loftin in because of his extensive knowledge and his ability.”

Loftin’s appointment as deputy secretary raised eyebrows in the early months of 2024 because he previouslyheaded up the Ware YouthCenter in Coushatta, aRed River Parish juvenile detention facility that came under scrutiny in 2022 after aNew York Times investigation unearthed araft of child abuse allegations there.

Loftin,who was never personally accused of abuse, denied the claims. The Louisiana Senate conﬁrmed him in June 2024.

LABI namesScott Ballard as board chair

ScottBallard, wholast week stepped down as chairofthe LSU BoardofSupervisors, has been named the chairman of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’sboard of directors.

Velocity is stillconductingclinicaltrialsfor investigationalvaccines andtherapies that couldhelpprevent thespreadofCOVID-19. Eligible participants mayreceive compensation. No Health InsuranceRequired.

LABI,the state’slargest chamber of commerce and business advocacy group, announced its full 2026 board of directors and leadership, including Ballard’s new role, on Thursday Ballard remains on the LSU board and owns the PJ’scoffee shop chain with his business partners. He succeeds TomCox, founder and executive chairman of Golfballs.com,who now becomes the immediate past chair Scott Poole, president and CEO of RoyOMartin, will serve as vice chair,Eric Danos, owner of Danos Ventures, will serve as secretary and Kristin Wall, president of Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation, will serve as treasurer

“Historic investments are pouring into Louisiana, and that’s atestament to our economic potential,” Ballard said in aprepared statement. “Our job now is twofold: continue attracting businesses and capital, and ensure Louisiana is agreat place forpeople to live and thrive. Sustainable growth depends on both.”

Mark Ballard

Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS

Kennedy

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByTOM BRENNER

EDUCATION

Custodian gets national recognition for her service

‘She goes above and beyond’ with countless students

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Donella Wagner, the head cus-

todian at Raintree Elementary School in Baldwin, is often the ﬁrst to arrive each day — sometimes before dawn to unlock the doors and turn on the lights. Every morning as children hop off the bus, she greets them with a cheery “Good morning” and usually a hug.

“She sets the tone for the day,” said Raintree Principal Marie Cole.

“She’s got a beautiful smile and spirit and is always happy and it makes everyone else happy.”

Wagner, who has fostered relationships with countless students during her 16 years at the school, often goes by “granny” or “mawmaw.” Students share details about their personal lives and know they can ask her for help if they come to school without clean socks or a belt.

Wagner stocks a school uniform closet with those and other items, including shoes and backpacks, through donations that she solicits from the community. She also started a “Boys and Bowties” mentorship group after noticing behavioral issues among students, and she’s known to put up seasonal decorations — for Christmas or Mardi Gras or Black History Month — throughout the building.

“She goes above and beyond,” Cole said. “I wish every school could have a Ms. Donella.” Now Wagner, a grandmother

Q&A WITH DONELLA WAGNER HEAD CUSTODIAN, RAINTREE ELEMENTARy SCHOOL IN BALDWIN

of six who has worked in the St. Mary Parish school system for nearly 30 years, is being recognized on a national stage for her service and spirit

Wagner recently won the national Recognizing Inspiring School Employees, or RISE, award. Each year, states nominate outstanding school support staffers — such as paraprofessionals, bus drivers and secretaries and the U.S. Department of Education chooses a winner This year, Wagner was chosen from among 36 nominees from 20 states and jurisdictions, according to the department.

“Donella Wagner is the epitome of what it means to be a good leader,” Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement “We are grateful for Donella’s commitment and service to children, and we are proud to call her Louisiana’s own!”

During a visit to New Orleans last month, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon invited Wagner and Cole to breakfast at the Four Seasons, where she surprised Wagner with the RISE award.

“Education support professionals like Ms. Wagner are the backbone of our schools and local communities,” McMahon said in a statement.

“It was an honor to learn about Ms. Wagner’s dedication not only to Raintree Elementary School where she greets every student with a smile, but also to the Baldwin community.”

The Times-Picayune spoke with Wagner about her experience at Raintree Elementary, her impact

on students and what it’s like to be nationally recognized for her work. This interview has been edited for clarity

How long have you worked at Raintree Elementary?

I’m from Jeanerette, Louisiana. It takes me about 8 minutes to get to work every morning from where I live.

I’ve been here for 16 years and I’ve been in the school system for 27 years. I was in the cafeteria when I ﬁrst came on. I worked for several different schools in the area. Then I switched to janitorial.

How do your duties go beyond keeping the school clean?

Greeting the students in the morning is the beginning of my day When they get off the bus in the morning, they come through the bus entry and I tell them, “Good morning, open your book bags,” and some of them come with little sad faces so I give them a hug and brighten them up.

I greet the teachers. I have several teachers I know come early and if they’re not here early I know I need to make a phone call to check to see where they are.

How do students respond when you greet them in the morning?

It makes a difference.

When they come in, I don’t know what happened on the bus or on their way to school. But when they get here and see my face, some of them light up, some of them are ready with a hug before I even ask them if something was going wrong the day before or the night before.

What is a time you really felt like you

PROVIDED PHOTO

Donella Wagner, left, was honored with a national award for her work as a school custodian in Baldwin. U.S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon presented her with the award while touring in New Orleans last month. ‘Education support professionals like Ms. Wagner are the backbone of our schools and local communities,’ McMahon said.

made a difference? From second grade to ﬁfth grade, they feel comfortable coming to me and talking. Some of them call me granny or mawmaw or nanny The older kids talk to me about their boyfriends. We had a little incident here at school where the boys needed to be mentored so we started Boys and Bowties. We have a meeting once a month with the boys and they get to say what’s going on in the community or what’s going on with them and we talk about it. What did it feel like to receive the award from the U.S. Department of Education? I felt very honored and appreciated for all the little bitty things I do for education.

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS.

LAFAYETTEMARDI GRAS FESTIVAL INC.

Service, integrity deﬁne king

This year’sKing Toussaint

L’Ouverture LXVIII is Chris Terrell Ervin, aman whose life has been defined by service, leadership and integrity.

The king of Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc., Lafayette’s oldest African-American Mardi Gras krewe, is a seasoned logistics and supply-chain leader whose career spans decades of excellenceinthe United States Navy and beyond.

Trusted with the nation’smost sensitive operations, Ervin earned the distinction of top secret clearance and was repeatedly placed in charge of missions involving millions of dollars in critical assets. From supervising large teams across global operations to ensuring that every detail was executed with precision, he has built areputation as someone who leads with calm conﬁdence, discipline and heart. Throughout his career,hehas managed thousands of personnel, safeguarded high-value materials, and upheld the highest standards of accountability and safety.He has been entrusted with the care of people,resources and missions where failure was not an option. His leadership has saved millions, strengthened organizations, and inspired those who served under him to strive for excellence.

But beyond the titles and

Queen known forher faith

Queen Suzanne Simonne’ LXVIII for the 2026 Mardi Gras season is Ja’Nya Anae Williams. She is the daughterofShayla Clues and is supported by herstepfather,TerryClues, along with a loving family that includes her grandparents, Shirley and Louis Rowan, Gilbert Gordon and Hilda Gordon, sixsisters and one brother Ja’Nya is anative of Breaux Bridge,and is a proud 2024 graduate of Breaux Bridge Senior High School. Growing up in alarge, close-knit familyhelpedshape Ja’Nya into the confident and compassionate person she is today Through her school years, Ja’Nya wasactivelyinvolved in athletics and clubs, softball, basketball, volleyball, track, 4-H, BETA, Talent Search and FOCUS. There she developed teamwork, discipline andstrong leadership skills. Outside of sports, she enjoys expressing her creativity through makeup and hair.During her senior year,she was invited to participate in the 2023 Miss Magnolia State Peace OfficersAssociation State Pageant, where she placed second runner up. Ja’Nya also serves as ateam leader at Chick-fil-A, where she is known for her dedication, positive attitude and ability tolead by

ALLFOR ALLONS

BY KRISWARTELLE

Contributing writer

John Wesley Bordelon is well known in the banking and University of Louisiana at Lafayette community.Although he is originally from Metairie, Bordelon, who is Gabriel LXXXVII, hascalled Lafayette home for morethan 53 years. As astandout high school football player, Bordelon was offered numerous scholarships in Louisiana and Mississippi. He ultimately accepteda football scholarship at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.He helped the team achieve one of the best recordsin1976. That special timebegan his lifelong connection to Lafayette.

“Our team, allthe wonderful and welcoming friendships we developed in Lafayettewhile in college, that helped me decide to stay here,” Bordelonsaid. “And Suzanne hadtransferred from LSU to USL. So, she helpedmeget my grades straight and start focusing on acareer.” Bordelon is married to the former Suzanne Pamela Green, daughter of the late Mr.and Mrs. Robert Lee Green Jr.ofRiver Ridge.The couple hasthree daughters and six grandchildren: Olivia Bordelon Michel is married to StephenCharles Michel, Molly Bordelon Stanford is marriedto

BY KRISWARTELLE

Contributing writer

Lily Claire Hutchison will reign over the 2026 Mardi Gras festivities in Lafayette. The daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Scott LarcadeHutchison, Evangeline the LXXXVII, queen of Carnival, hasthreesiblings: Kate Barry Hutchison, John Hayes Hutchison and Hayden Scott Hutchison. Hutchisonisa nativeofLafayette. She attendedCathedral-CarmelSchool and St. Thomas More Catholic High School,where she graduated withscholar honors in 2025. HeractivitiesatSt. Thomas More include four years as a cheerleader,and she was amemberofthe Cougar Competition team. She servedasspirit coordinator forthe competition team her senioryear,and was awarded the distinctionofUCA All-American Cheerleader at UCA cheer camp at the University of Alabama. She was aUCA National Finalist in Orlando for three years. She was also an avid tumblerthroughout school,participating in both competitive tumbling and recreational tumbling for acombined 14 years. Hutchison participated in campus ministry,serving on both the Light and Quest retreat teams,

Staff report

Ervin Staff report

STAFF PHOTOSByBRAD BOWIE

Revelersplead for throws as theKrewe of Allons Kick-Off Paraderolls on Friday along the regular parade route in Lafayette.

Bordelon Hutchison

N.O. ‘hybrid’ hotelplans move ahead

Building designed forfamilies, friend groups

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

More than 18 months after unveiling plans for ahotel on theedge of the French Quarter,New Orleansreal estate developer Sam Solomon is moving forward with ascaled-down version of the project.

Solomon, whosefamily built hundreds of movie theaters and shoppingcenters across the south in the mid-20th century,recently secured approval to build a two-story hotelonthe parkinglot near the intersection of North Rampart and Barracks streets across from the former Carmelite Convent, which he bought in 2019 and converted to luxury apartments.

The hotel is the latest of several new hybrid hotels that haveopened in the downtown areaover the past two years as the city has cracked down on commercial shortterm rentals. Though licensed as ahotel, ahybrid hotel functions as acomplex of short-term rental units, each with multiple bedrooms, under asingle roof.

The properties are designed to appealtogroups who travel together for celebratory gatherings and festivals and have proven particularly popular as the city grows its reputation as a destination for bachelor parties andweddings.

“There is abig demand for this type of product,” Solomon said. “A lot of new developments have come up across New Orleans to help ﬁll that need, but there is still more demand.”

Solomon revised his plans for the project after neighbors from the Colonial Con-

ERVIN

Continued from page1B

accolades,what truly de-

PROVIDED RENDER

Arendering of Sam Solomon’splanned hybrid hotel at theintersection of North Rampartand Barracks streets on the edgeofFrench Quarter and Treme shows the newly approvedscaled-downplans.

dominiums directly across Barracks Street from the site raised concerns about thesize of the structure and its potentialimpact on parking and noise.

The new plans, approved by the city’sHistoric Districts Landmarks Commission and the City Planning Commission,address some of those issues, several neighborssaid thisweek.Instead of athree-story building that would have exceeded themaximum height limitin the neighborhood,the new building is two stories with a sloped roof and dormers.

Pla ns show the 10 000-square-foot building will be about one-third smallerthan the three-story, 15,000-square-foot project Solomonoriginallyproposed in mid-2024.

Despiteits smallersize, the hotel will have nearly as many bedrooms as originally planned —26insteadof27— in four large apartment-style units instead of seven. One of theunits will have two bedrooms, andtwo units will have seven bedrooms each The largest unitwill have 10 bedrooms.

Still, neighbors said they remain concerned that the large unitswillamount to “Airbnb-style party pads.”

“They basically just squeezed the same thing into asmallerspace,” said Phil Kurica, who lives inthe

Colonial Condominiums.“We don’tmind them building something. It’swhat they are buildingthat concernsus.”

Solomon noted thatthe plans comply with all city regulations and said hybrid hotels are popular with families as wellasgroups of friends

Anotherstickingpoint with neighborsiswhether thehotel will have an on-site property manager or concierge, which is required of hotels by city law

TomNeyhart, anotherresident of the Colonial Condominiums, saidSolomon has notcommitted to 24/7on-site management.

Solomon said Wednesday that “if it’s required by the city,then we’ll have it.”

Solomon is in the process of seeking ﬁnancing forthe project, which is expected to cost less than $2 million.

Revisionstothe plans have lowered the developer’scosts at atimewhen interest rates aremorefavorablethanwhen the project started, he said. Insurance rates also appear to be holdingsteadyafter several years of double-digit increases.

“Interest rate decreases have helped alot of projects to start up,” he said. “I think there isageneral optimistic view about New Orleans right now.

He hopestobegin construction by midsummer

BORDELON

Continuedfrom page1B

Justin Brett Stanford, and KateBordelon Judice is married to Adam Michael Judice.

Aftergraduating with adegree in business administration and accounting,Bordelon went on to workinthe medical insurance ﬁeld and then became acontrollerat HomeSavings and Loan in 1981. Bordelon helped manage Home Savings throughthe turbulent ﬁnancial times in the ’80s. He served as managing officer,then eventually became presidentand CEO of Home Bank. During the 45 years Bordelon has led Home Bank, the company hasgrown from $110 million to over $3.5 billion in assets, expanding to 43 branches throughout south Louisiana,Mississippi and Texas.

Under Bordelon’sleadership, the company has grown to almost 500 employees, andisthe only remaining bank headquartered in Lafayette.

It’s thatkind of growth in business that hasfueled thegrowth of both thecityofLafayetteand its Mardi Gras celebrations.

“It’samazing,”Bordelonsaid. “I remember the ﬁrstkrewe paradeIrode in. Ididn’teven think the float would make it through thewhole parade. But with theinvestment the krewes have made in our Mardi Gras, it has grown tremendously.”

Bordelonwas on the boardofthe Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi GrasAssociation for two decades and servedaschair in 2014. Bordelon’sthreedaughters were debutantes and royal maids in theKrewe of Gabriel. Olivia was aroyal maid to Queen Evangeline LXVI.Molly was royal maid to Queen Evangeline LXVIII, and Kate was honor maidto Queen Evangeline LXXI. Theyall were chosen as maids in Les Brigands de Laﬁtte.

Still, no matter how involved the family has been, Bordelon said one really cannot prepare for being asked to reign as King Gabriel. “When they asked me, it was sucha surprise,” he recalled. “It was weird. Ihad just gotten home from work, andmywife wasn’tfeeling well. So Iput on my T-shirtand shorts, no shoes, and all of asudden there’sthis knock on the door.They were there to tell me I waschosen as king.

Bordelon will reign as King Gabriel LXXXVII, the 87th, king of Mardi Gras.

That Gabriel is celebrating 87 years of tradition and history is impressive. But there is something almost mystical aboutthe year as well. Bordelon’s number as a football playerincollege was87.

“It was just so exciting,”Bordelonsaid. “I hadthought aboutwhatit would be like,but Inever expected it to happen.

ﬁnes Ervin is character.He is known as steady,thoughtful, and deeply committed to those around him. He leads not for recognition, but out of agenuine sense of responsibility and care.Those who have worked beside him describe aman who setsthe standard, lifts others higher, and embodies professionalism in its truest form.

WILLIAMS

Continued from page1B

example.

Faith plays asignificant role in Ja’Nya’slife, and she is an active member of Destiny of Faith Church, where she continues to grow spiritually and gives back to her community

Ja’Nya is no stranger to the rich culture and traditions of Mardi Gras, having grown up surrounded by its

Continued from page1B

and as asenior mentorto freshmen as abible study leader.

Hutchison is afreshman at LouisianaState Universitymajoring in business administration with plans to attend law school.She is amember of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority

“I hope to go to law school and to become alawyer,” she said. Hutchisonand her family sharealifelong love of Mardi Grasand Carnival season. In 2024, she wasa debutante in the Krewe of Gabriel’sfall presentation. She was also presentedas amaid in LesBrigandsde Laﬁtte in 2025. Herfamily’sinvolvementinMardi Gras festivities spans generations. Her mother,Angela Barry Hutchison, was adebutante in the Krewe of Gabriel fall presentation. She was presented as amaid in Les Brigands de Lafitte, and as aroyal maid to Queen Evangeline the LVII. Her father,Scott Hutchison,

He’saproud nativeofDecatur,Alabama, whohas a deep connection to Louisiana. Ervin was crowned at the krewe’s68th annualpageant and ball on Jan. 31 at the Heymann Performing

history,prideand celebration. She said she is honored to represent hercommunity and celebrate the spirit, tradition and unity of Mardi Gras with pride and purpose.

Lafayette Mardi Gras FestivalInc.was organized in 1958and is Lafayette’s oldest AfricanAmerican Mardi Gras Krewe.

Ja’Nya was crowned at thekrewe’s68thannual pageantand ball on Jan. 31, 2026, at theHeymann

has been amember of the KreweofGabriel anda ﬂoatrider in the King’sParade on MardiGrassince 2003. In 2016, Hutchison’s brother,Hayden Scott Hutchison, was aroyal page to Queen Evangeline LXXVII in 2016.

Hutchison saideven thoughshe hasalot of Mardi Grasexperience, she was not expectinga visit from theQueen’s committee.

“It wasa completesurprise,” she said.“Icompletely did not expect it.”

Hutchison does expect that she will thoroughlyenjoy every minute of her time as Queen Evangeline.

“My love of MardiGras came from growing up watching the parades, going to balls with family and friends,and seeing the maids and thecostumes,” shesaid.“That’s what I’m lookingforward to most Experiencing all ofitwith my friends. It’sjust so much fun.”

The list of involvement by Hutchison’s grandparents on both sides is long Her grandfather, James

Arts Center. His royalpages were: Mark Jones, the husband of TarshielJones and the sonofEarnest and May Jones;Tristian Ervin, theson of Dexter Ervin andSheila Baker;Christan TylerErvin, the son of King ChrisErvin andKarmal Mouton; andChandler Terell Ervin, theson of King Chris Ervin and Karmal Mouton.

Performing Arts Center.Her royal attendants were:Chloe CamilleClay, thedaughterofDanisha Clay and Joseph Clay; AyaElise Alexander,the daughterofAmaryahGordon and Kasyn Alexander; KeileeAngelique Clues, the daughter of Kimberly Calais and Terry Clues; Kennedy Layne Clues,the daughter of Shayla and Terry Clues;and Olivia Marie Henry,the daughter of Kasie Rossyionand Jason Henry

Hutchison, is amember and ﬂoat rider in the Krewe of Gabriel and has served as a royal duke to King Gabriel LXXVII. He also reigned as king of the Mystic Krewe of LouisianiansinWashington, D.C. in 1997. Her grandfather,Arthur Barry,became amember of theKrewe of Gabriel in 1979 andservedasroyal duke to King Gabriel XLV in 1984. Hergreat-grandfather was amember of the Krewe of Gabriel and a member of TheOrder of the Troubadours. He reigned as King Richard Coeur de Lion IX in 1953.

Hutchison’sgreat-grandfather was honored as a royal duke to King Gabriel XIXin1958 andserved as commodore of thekrewe in 1966.

Hutchison saidshe is honored to have been chosen as queen over the secondlargest Carnival celebration in Louisiana. But she is hoping for one more blessing.

“I’mjustpraying for good weather,” she said. “I’m looking forward to sitting in the stand with all of my friends and greeting our king on abeautiful Mardi Gras day.”

Bordelon’s family also has along history of involvementinCarnival. He andhis wifehave been members of the Krewe of Bonaparte since 1979. Bordelon was royal duke to King Napoleon BonaparteXXV.He served as royal duke to Gabriel LXVI andwas a duke in the Krewe of Attakapas. He also served as King XanaduXXV

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THE GULF COAST

BlackMardi Gras krewebringsBay St.Louis together

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

When RickeyLewis movednorth as achild in the1980s,hespent the next five years missing Bay St.Louis,a feeling that deepenedevery Mardi Gras when thestreets of his hometown were fogged withbarbecuesmoke and littered with beads.

Lewis returned during Carnival twice, and each timehestruggled to accept he would have to leave again. That truth felt especially heavy on Mardi Gras Day during those visits, when the Kreweof RealPeople rolled through athriving Blackbusiness hub locals then called the Back-of-Town in convertible cars, horse-drawn carriages and ﬂoats.

The parade was one of his favorites

His earliest memory of it came when he was 5or 6 years old, riding on aﬂoat painted blue and wearing astore-boughtPhrygian cap. Lewis was dressed as aSmurf, for reasons that only make sense during MardiGras.

“Mardi Gras meant home,” he said. “The Krewe of Real People meant we were around family.”

The krewe meant family,both by bloodand by community.Growing up, Lewis’sgrandparents and aunt were part of the original Krewe of Real People, whichremains the only Black krewe on the Mississippi Coast with aMardi Gras parade.

Now 48, Lewis is continuing that tradition as an organizer forthe Krewe of Real People: Next Generation, renamed after the previous leadershipstepped down.

The parade marches on in downtown, drawing swarms of new revelers as the population surges in Bay St. Louis, one of the fastest-growing cities on the Gulf Coast.

“It means so much to me for us to keep it going,” Lewis said. “If we don’t, it’s very possible that it fades, and abig parade would no longer exist. This has been apart of my life forever.”

Howthe krewestarted

To outsiders, Carnival can look like an excuse to drink too much, eat too much and collect too many throws that lose value once the holiday has passed.For Lewis and others who celebrate, its meaning runs deeper

Mardi Gras has long served as areason to bring people together,even through some of the South’s darkest moments —wars, hurricanes, pandemics.

Theworkbeginswell

beforeCarnival, as artists build ﬂoats from papier mâché, bands rehearse brass lines and drum cadences, and MardiGrasIndians spend months sewing sequined costumes adorned with crystals and feathers.

Sandra Price and agroup of Mississippicoast residents started the Krewe of Real Peoplein1981 for that veryreason:tofoster community afterthe Merry Makers, oneofthe ﬁrst Black krewes in Bay St. Louis, discontinued.

“Mardi Gras would come, peoplewould cook at their house or whatever, but there wasnounion,”Price said.

Moneywas tight,but thatdid not discourage the krewe’sfounders. The small group could not afford beads, so they created their own throws with chicken wire, while Pricecreated and led her owndance krewe, the EbonyPearls Making do with limited resourceswas something they learned from earlier generations, including an older krewe called the Moss Men, whoPrice remembered decorating their clothing with moss.

“I know it don’tsound like much,”Price said. “You know,back in the day, we didn’thave much.”

Even thekrewe’s name reﬂected thecommunity Price and the other founders grew up around. Originally, the group was torn between two names —Almost Anything Goes and Real People —both taken from television shows. Price pushed forRealPeoplebecause, to her,itmeant “realistic, energetic and loving people.”

To Lewis, the name carries asimilarmeaning.

“Real People signifies

the everyday person in our community,whether it be thehighly educated professional, or it be just aregular working class mom or dad, whether it be theteenagers in college,” Lewis said. “It’s just areal slice of Mississippi, arealslice of America, just aslice of thepeople that make up thecommunity.

‘Can’t take it outmyblood’

TheKrewe of Real People:NextGeneration looks much differentfrom the onePrice helpedbuild.

The organizationnow has more funding to supportits Mardi Gras Day parade, when car clubs,motorbikes andATVs ﬁll the street as krewe members throweverything from New Orleans Saints jerseystopaintings

Beyond Carnival, the krewe hosts food andtoy drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas and offers scholarships, working year-round to support the community it represents.

Its annual Mardi Gras ball is its largest fundraiser,

with ticket sales used to fund those efforts, said the krewe’spresident,Lonnie Bradley,whose father was its ﬁrst king.

The ball carries adifferenttheme every year,with

past celebrations includingHarlem Nights and ComingtoAmerica. On Saturday,the ball honored historically Black colleges and universities —atheme that resonated with many

members, including this year’s king and queen, Paul and Joni Farve, bothHBCU graduates

Thekrewe is doing exactly whatBradley hoped for seven yearsago, when he agreed to become the organization’spresident under one condition: that it emphasizecommunity over Carnival. Afterhelost his son to gun violence, he said, the work became“atestimony —the reason why we do what we do.”

“Weneed to wrapour hands around our community,and I’m nottalking about Blackand White,” Bradley said. “I’mtalking about community,period.” Some things,however, have not changed. The parade route remains thesame, rolling each year past the cornerof Sycamoreand St. Francis streets in Back-of-Town During segregation, it was one of the few places where Black residents could celebrate Mardi Gras. Price never wants to see the route change.

“(Back-of-Town) goes way back, way beforeIwas born. It was pretty much our square,” Price said. “I don’tknow how elsetoput it.You can’ttake it out of my blood. It’sembedded in me,you know? I’m grounded in it.”

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Prospectivecollege students will have an opportunity to exploreacademics,campuslifeand future career pathways when LSUEunicehosts Bengal Dayon Tuesday, March24.

Thefreeevent begins at 10 a.m. (check-instartsat 9a.m.) on theLSUEcampusand is designed to give interested students andtheir families aﬁrsthandlook at what it meanstobeanLSUEBengal. Attendees willmeetfaculty,staff andcurrent students,learn aboutacademicprogramsand financialaid,tour campus facilities –including theon-campus Bengal Villageapartments– andreceive acomplimentary lunchand T-shirt. AnyoneinterestedcanregisterforBengalDayatwww lsue.edu/tours/index.php

“BengalDay is ourpremier recruitmentevent.It’san opportunityfor potentialstudentstoget agoodidea aboutwhether LSUE is theright placefor them,” said Chad Jones, LSUE Director of Recruitment.

JonessaidBengalDay is intentionallystructured to showcase both LSUE’s academic qualityand its close-knit campus culture.

“IhopevisitorsseethatLSUEisacollegeenvironment withahighacademicquality,butnotanoverwhelming size.You’renot goingtobecomea number here.This is aplace wherepeoplewillknowyourname,”Jones said.“We want potentialstudents to leave Bengal Dayfeeling that this is acampuswhere they canbe comfortableand also geta greateducation.” BengalDaywillbeginwithawelcomesessionfeaturing administrators,facultyandstaff.Prospectivestudents willthenconnect with Bengal Ambassadors– current LSUE students whoserve as peer recruiters. While they explorecampustogether, parentsand guests attend aseparatesession that addressesfinancial aid, housing, campus security,foodservices andhow families canstayinvolvedina student’seducation

“The main questionsare always aboutthe cost,” Jones said.“They also askabout howthe processworks if they want to transfer aftertwo yearshere. Then,they askabout when they canscheduleclasses.” Bengal Dayisprimarily for high schoolers(mainly juniorsand seniors) but we also have underclassmen transfer students,and first-time non-traditional students

“Weencourage people to bringacurious mind.We want youtoask questions,”Jones said.“We want to help youﬁnd your future.I encourageattendees to be readytointeractand don’tbeafraidtoask questions. BengalDayattendeesdonotneedtobringanymaterials Jonessaidwhile most have at leasta broadinterest in apotential career path,their discussionswith facultymembers throughout theday canhelpthem clarifytheir goals.

“The impact ourfaculty hasonour students is so important, so they areinvolvedearly.Theyembrace theopportunity to talk with potentialstudents about what theircourses wouldlooklikeand what jobsthat mightpreparethemfor,”Jonessaid.“Wealsohavestaff whoare ready to answer questionsfromstudents who areundecided aboutamajor,and some stepsthatwe canworkthrough with them.”

Knownfor itspersonalizedapproachtoeducation LSUE offersaffordablepathwaysfor students seeking associatedegrees,workforce credentialsortransfer opportunitiestofour-year universities.LSUEoffersa wide rangeofacademicprograms, includingbusiness, biology, educationand computer science,along with strong healthcare offerings.Withsmall classsizes anddedicated faculty, LSUE emphasizes hands-on learningand closementoring relationshipsthathelp students succeedbothacademicallyand personally Visitwww.lsue.edutolearn more

PROVIDED PHOTOByRICKEy LEWIS

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Arthur Hardywill always be our favorite Mardi Gras guide

When Louisiana bidsfarewell to the ﬂesh this week, it will also say goodbye to amainstay of Carnival. Come Ash Wednesday, Arthur Hardy is boxing up his throws,hanging up his beads and rolling into awell-earned retirement.

As author of the Mardi Gras Guide,which he launched in 1977 along with his wife, Susan, and hislateassociate John Drury,Hardy’s name has long since been synonymous with our area’sunique celebratory season. Over half acentury,his startup publication, modeledinparton theonce-popularTVGuide,grew into an annual treasure trove of stories, trivia and loreabout krewes largeand small, urban and suburban, as well as ahandy collection of news-you-can-use —including those all-important daily parade maps. He’sdocumented explosive growth and cultural changes, from throwtrends to the riseof women’skrewes andthe nowubiquitous cheeky adultdance troupes.

Hardy’salso been aﬁxture on localtelevision, something that soon will end, too. Indeed, much of what many of us know about Carnival can likely be traced back to his painstaking research and documentation. It should surprise nobody who’sfollowedhis work that Hardy started as an educator, teaching music and leading the band at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans for many years.In theWYES-TV documentary “Arthur Hardy: Our Mardi GrasGuide,”hesaid he and Susan were looking to make somemoney on theside and ﬁrst set out to publish abar guide,but switchedgears and came up with the idea of aparadeguide After some early hits and misses, it eventually took off once Hardy started appearing regularly on TV to talk about the paradesand the throws, the stories behind each krewe and the artwork, which he collects.

Over time, he became atrustedexpert, to the pointwhere he occasionally corrected krewe leaders on their own organization’searly exploits. This Carnival season hasbeensomething of amonthslong celebrationofHardy’simpact, completewithproclamations and ﬂoats bearing hisimage. We’re happy to report, though, that the tradition he started isn’tgoing away.The guide will still be produced by GeorgesMedia,which owns this newspaper and purchasedthe guide in 2023. And it will continue to bear his name,“ensuring that his name and hislife’swork remain forever tied to the celebration he loves,” publisher Kevin Hall said. Hardy himself isn’tgoing anywhereeither With more time on his hands, “nowI cango to more parades than ever,” he told WYES. We look forward to seeing him out there,passing agood time on the neutralground for years to come. And aﬁnal note to our many readerswho ride in Carnivalparades:Thisshouldgowithout saying, but if you spot ArthurHardy on theroute, go ahead and throw him something, mister— or sister He’scertainly earned it after 50 years of ajob very well done.

LETTERSTOTHE

HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

considered thenew submission

Somelisteners who are not entirely sold on Chappell Roan’s artistry brush off her songs and bawdy stage persona as “campy and loud.” They see aﬂashy, attention-grabbing circus act. And even as Roan marketsherself as an over-the-top lesbian, thestyling still reads as catering to the male gaze. At therecent Grammy Awards, she drew maximum notice withexposed breasts and rings punched through thenipples. From thosecontraptions hung her dress straps.

“I want tohear themusic,” a rock critic told me. “I don’tnecessarily want to see thebazooms.” (He’sseen lots of them,hesays. More than he can count.) “The really great female performers don’tdothat,” the critic added.

Packagingsymbolic acts of submission as amark of sexual power takes someserious mental gymnastics. For starters, having holes punched through one’snipples and sticking metal objects through them is apainful process and arisk for infections. Pierced nipples are said to be an emblem of nonconformity. So would driving arod through your hand.

Award showshave turned intoakind of runway contest in boundary-pushing nudity.How much of thepubic area can they show? Howmuch rear end can be revealed? Andhow little can be stuck over the breast and still count as “dress?” The spectacle often

Much like Mardi Gras, our lettersinbox offers something for everyone. Iwas recently asked what letters Iparticularly enjoy reading. And Ihadn’treally thought alot about it. Iamglad that so manypeople take the time to write to us. Likemany of you, I’m sure, Ienjoy well-informed views that raise issues Ihadn’t thought about. We have lotsof readers with very specialized knowledge of technical topics, so Iam always glad when letter writers teach me something new Ialso enjoy the letters that use humor or satire to makeapoint. There are several readers who are very clever and whose writing is just laughout-loud funny.Humor is atool that can bring people together if used correctly,though sarcasm can sometimes be aturnoff. It’s aﬁne line, and some

feels inversely related to the talent on display Men aren’texpected to sell themselves that way.Atthe Grammys, Bad Bunny showed up fully covered in an elegant black velvet tuxedo from Schiaparelli couture. Irecently joined friends at ahip urban restaurant on abrutally coldnight. All themen and smart-looking women were dining bundled up in sweater layers and puffy vests, somewith wool scarves still wrapped around theneck. In walked six young women in sleeveless shift dresses that ended about mid-thigh. They woreheels you wouldn’twant to test on the ice outside. It was aSaturday night, and fellow diners speculated that “the girls” were there to get picked up by someofthe well-to-do male customers whofrequent theplace. The pretty young women looked quiteavailable, but they leftthe restaurant unescorted. If they werelooking for adate, they’d probably have done better browsing the stacks at a nearby bookstore. At the very least, they’d look less desperate. Valentine’sDay has away of exposing the lopsided gender bargain. It’s supposed to be adressed-up night out —reservations, candles, the whole thing —yet far too often, only one half of the couple gets the memo,

the female half.The womanarrives dolled up in asparkly dress and spiky sandals. Her hair and makeup are done, her nails freshly polished. Her malecompanion? He’sfrequently in a sweatshirt and scruffy jeans. I’ve seen malepartners in white-tablecloth restaurants with backward baseball caps and bellies spilling out. No lie: I’ve even seen men in ribbed, sleeveless “wife-beater” undershirts. And this inequality will continue through summer’s water play.The girls will be wearing tiny patches of cloth on their breasts and bottoms, while the boys rompfreely in baggy surﬁng shorts. The shorts’ looser cut is built formovement, comfort and coverage. But note how the girls on surfboards are still in that barely-there swimwear I’dbet that, come Valentine’sDay, somewomen will get nipple piercings to makethemselves seem more desirable, at least in their minds. Then they’ll be told to watch forredness, swelling, fever and yellow-green ooze. Sold as rebellion, it’sthe high price that somewomen pay to satisfysomeone else’sfantasies.

Hurting yourself to play sex toy reads less like empowerment and morelike submission —atleast to me. But what do Iknow?

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop.Emailher at fharrop@gmail.com.

readers know how to paint scenes that have us rolling in the aisles or toss off zingers that hit home. Politicians are often the target of these letters, and that’sprobably because they give readers so much material to work with. We get lettersfrom all corners of the state, and Iparticularly appreciate readers who care deeply about issues affecting their local communities.Whether it’stopraise or criticize, readers who write to raise awareness of something that may not be in the spotlight always earn my respect. It’s good for ofﬁcials toknow that citizens are paying attention to what they do. Lastly,Ialways am happy to see letters that are steeped in Louisiana history and lore. We live in an amazing part of the country with aunique shared history,sowhenever readers

give aparticularly Louisiana perspective on the news, I’mreminded of how special this place is. Even though our politics has becomemore similar to other Southern states, there are still a fewissues where the Louisiana view is just different, and readers point that out. With Mardi Gras on the horizon, I don’thave the count of letters we received foryou this week. Ihope you are taking time away from the news to enjoy this season of revelry.The newswill always be here, and we’ll be waiting foryour opinion on it. In the meantime, enjoy the parades. Along the route, differences of opinion don’t matter.All that matters is that everyone is having agood time.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor.Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com

Arnessa Garrett

Hardy

Froma Harrop

COMMENTARY

Lawmakersshouldworktoscale up LA GATOR

Parents matter.They,not the government,should control their children’schoices relatedto education. That simple insight should lead the Louisiana legislature this year to approveGov Jeff Landry’s full request for funding of the LA GATOR initiative, which is the innovative school-choice program that parents love.

State Senate President Cameron Henry,R-Metairie, last yearwas loath to meet Landry’sbudgetary request, but there’snogood reason for him to do so again.Indeed, he and Landry should taketime beforethe March9start of the legislative session to put torest any concerns and work outany differences.

With amassive, unexpected surplus from the 2025 budget year, there is no goodﬁscal reason to rejectLandry’srequest. And with tens of thousands of Louisiana families last year denied participation in LA GATOR despite having applied for it, the actual education marketplace is screaming for legislators to more fully ﬁnance this bold, effective policy LA GATOR isn’tjusta“voucher” program like the old one in Louisiana that led to mixed results. Instead, it provides educational savings accounts that familiescan use not just at private schools but

fora widearrayofeducational courses, services and products such as tutoring, standardized test preparation, onlinecourses, extracurricular programs, special-ed offerings andmore.

Thenumbers are telling. Last year, Landry requested nearly $94million for LA GATOR, but thelegislature, withHenry leading the opposition, approved only $43.5 million.There were almost 40,000 students whose parents applied for the grants, but only 5,600 grantswere awarded. Worse, theimplementation of theprogram discouraged parentsfrom using choice even to start their children’s educational careers, with just apaltry 80 kindergart-

ners gettinggrantsdespite 4,500 kindergarten applicantsbeing eligible.

This year,Landry is asking for $88 million for theprogram, which essentially would double thenumber of studentswho could use it.State House Speaker Phillip DeVillier,R-Eunice, listed support for LAGATOR among his seven key policy issues in a statement released Feb. 12, while acknowledging that the state Senate still has “questions around what the actual functions of LA GATOR look like.”

Henry,for his part, continues to express skepticism and says moreinformation is needed about how families can spend the

money Those questions, though, already amplyhave been answered, if only he will look. Between the statelaw that created the program and aregulation of the state BoardofElementary and Secondary Education knownasBulletin 133 —which was shared with all legislators and on which not asingle legislator commented, much less complained —the requirements andlists of approved expenditures are clearly laid out, along with provisions forprogram evaluation, monitoring and compliance. “There are deﬁnitely guardrails and expectations,” said Erin Bendily,asenior vice president of the conservative Pelican Institute thinktankwho spent nearly 10 years as theAssistant Superintendent of Policy andGovernmental Affairsatthe Louisiana DepartmentofEducation. “Audits, reviews andreporting requirements areall strict,” and with instructions that they be “nondiscriminatory.”

Meanwhile, ﬁscal concerns, especially in the short run, are unwarranted. Louisiana was blessed with awhopping $577 million of surplus revenues from the 2025 budget year that ended last June 30.

Of that, $144 million will go into an already substantial “rainy day” savings account and $144 million to early payoffofcapital debt,both of which obviously put

the state in better shape to handle any future economic downturns. That still leaves $289 million forother purposes. If Landry thought the state could afford $50 million morethan it spent forLA GATOR from its regular budget last year,then surely it can afford $44.5 million more(the difference between last year’s$43.5 million actual allocation and Landry’s$88 million request) in the coming ﬁscal year,just using those surpluses alone.

Henry said on Feb. 6that he is worried about “doubl[ing] this program every single year,” but nobody is suggesting anything of the kind. Even if they double last year’sallocation, all it would do is approach (but not yet meet) Landry’soriginal request from a year ago, and with no indication that any redoubling is expected in the future.

In short, Louisiana clearly can afford this program forthe foreseeable future at the level the governor wisely is requesting —all while rigorous monitoring already is part of the package. With this initiative, Louisiana has joined the vanguard of states creatively adopting parent-centered education reform. With so manyfamilies clamoring to participate in LA GATOR, now is not the timefor legislators to crawﬁsh away from paying forit.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Photos,stories andreckoning with thepast

Astreetcorner in Baton Rouge ANew Orleans restaurant. The courthouse in Clinton. They’re just places or buildings. But much like the ghosts and memories that ﬂoat through their rooms and halls, these old structures tell stories. Not so much in words, but in wood, brick, stone and time.

Those sites —and the stories they tell —lie at the center of anew exhibit at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, one that puts aphotographic lens on Louisiana’s history of embracing and ﬁghting segregation.

thoughts, accomplishmentsand heroes of our past For too long, it wasn’tso.

The exhibit, called “Present Day Traces of Segregation, Civil Rights, and Collective Memory in Louisiana” and curated by acommittee from the LouisianaPhotographic Society,isfree andopen to the public through March14. Its stark images recountand remind those who see them of decades of Louisiana history that, whether we like it or not, must be considered alongside the great

WhenIstartedkindergarten in the late 1970satSacred Heart SchoolinBaton Rouge, forinstance,myclasses hadboth Black and White students. By the time I reachedhigh school in the 1980s, lessons about segregationdownplayedits ugliness and taught it as a relic of the past that ended in 1964 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Consequently,I was an adult before Ilearned how fragile that scholastic racialcommingling of my early years was. And how muchstruggle had gone on in the years immediately beforetobring it about.

These arestories with which I—and Isuspectmany others continue to grapple.

That bringsmeback to the exhibit. Each of the pictures exploressegregation andcivil rights in adifferent way,sometimes through the tight, focused lens

of an individual’sstory, at others through photographic depiction of landmarks that, for whatever reason, tell some aspect of the story of the ﬁght for equality in Louisiana.

There are statues, courthouses, cemeteries and shops. There are houses, historical markers and portraits.

One photo shows the towering Confederate soldier statue in front of the East FelicianaCourthouse, which remains to this day.Another,the obeliskmonument in a Colfax cemetery thatisdedicated to threeWhite men who died “ﬁghting for Whitesupremacy” during the 1873 massacreofBlack residents.

Some show important incubators of the ﬁght againstsegregation: Dooky Chase’sTreme restaurant, wherecivil rightsleadersgathered to plan strategy in the ﬁght for equality,orNorth Boulevard just outside theOld StateCapitol, amajor staging ground for the 1953 BatonRouge Bus Boycott.

One photo simply shows agolf ball on atee, and the attached

placard recounts the 1991 actions of the St. Frederick’sHigh School golf team, whose lone Black member was denied entry to Caldwell Country Club in Columbia, where ahigh school tournament was scheduled. In response, the rest of his teammates also refused to play

All of thephotos in the 85-item display were taken by volunteers withthe Louisiana Photographic Society in response to arequest from the folks who run the Old State Capitol. The society’smembers fanned out across the state, capturing places and people whose lives remind us that segregation’s structuresremain part of our landscape today

Sometimes even the photographers learned new things.

“I didn’tknow whatpeople went through,” Linda Medine, who has severalshots in the show,told me Stacey Pearson, who helmed the LPS committeethat took the photos, said the project’sgoal was multifaceted: “not only memorializethe places but to honor the Louisianans who fought against segregation.”

History has always been about the stories we tell, mostly about ourselves.

Sometimes those stories come in documents, artifacts or movements. Sometimes the stories are told through places, structures and monuments. Photos can bring all of those together,combining the whole range in atwo-dimensionalprint. That’s whatthese pictures aim to do: Foregroun in our consciousness stories that for too long were left in the background.

Pictures don’tyell, judge or harangue. They confront, reproach and correct.

No mere photograph or even a collection of them,ofcourse, can tell the full story of Louisiana history.But the narratives these photos recount are not only important; they’re necessary Especially if we expect our story to ever get close to whatwemight call truth.

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Bringing thousandsofDemocrats to N.O. nota badthing

The Democratic National Committeewill have ageneralmeeting in Louisiana for the firsttime in recent memory Yep. The blue Democrats are coming to ruby red Louisiana. If past such meetings are any example, there willbe thousands of attendees. The early estimate is 2,000 to 2,500 Democrats.But, c’mon. When other Democrats find out that there’sa party gathering with like-minded people in New Orleans, youknow that number is going to go up. That business meeting isn’tthe place for those who are merely registered to vote as Democrats, casting ballots only during presidential elections. It’sfor the diehard party faithful, the people who are apart of the day-to-day operations of state Democratic party organizations,the people who dig into the weeds of the party’sbylaws, the people who care deeply about which committees are formed, expanded or disbanded. This is not like the national party convention you see on television everyfour years when it’stime to officially nominate apresidential nominee.

But, though not as big, it is important.

U.S. Reps. Troy Carter,D-New Orleans, andCleoFields, D-Baton Rouge, have been active in theirparty fordecades, but this meeting isn’tordinarily on their calendars. Thereare Democratic elected ofﬁcials there from time to time,but usually at sessions as invited guests. Neither Carter nor Fields remembers the national party hosting ameeting in Louisiana.

Like the Republican National Committee, the DNC takes care of business year-round, not just on election day,during early voting and during campaigns. That takes meetings like the one thatwill be held at the Hilton Riverside Hotel at thefoot of Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, April 7-11. Since 2016, the DNC has had meetings in cities including Atlanta,Austin, Brooklyn, Charleston, Denver,Detroit, Las Vegas, Long Beach and Minneapolis. Philadelphia, Santa Fe, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. also hosted some of thesemeetings. I’ve been to most of these places.

They’re nice. Each has itsown charm,ﬂavor and history.But, c’mon. None of themare New Orleans.

Carter told me he’sbeen working to get anational meeting here for some time, and people warmed up to the possibility several months ago. Now thatit’sscheduled, he feels he’scleared abig hurdle to get the attention of the national party Fields said, “It’salways good to have the national party in your state,” adding that“the people who comeinApril will enjoy the hospitality” and see why the party should be in New Orleans and Louisiana. For them, it’snot just about hosting the DNC meeting.

Just this month, Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez won the state Representative District60seat with62% of the vote —inadistrict thathas voted for Trumpmultiple times.

“Louisiana should always be in play,” Carter told me.“Louisiana is ablue state if everyone votes.”

He’sright. There are moreregisteredDemocratsthan Republicans in Louisiana. But you wouldn’t know thatlooking at our state’svoting history

Some 36.4% of the state’s 3mil-

lion registered voters are Democrats. About 35.5% of the voters are Republican.

YetPresidentDonaldTrump overwhelmingly wonLouisianain each of his three presidential campaigns. In the last four decades, only four Democrats have been elected governor

It maybesome time before a Democrat gets elected to astatewide federal or state ofﬁce again. And it may be sometime before a Democraticpresidentialcandidate wins Louisiana. It can happen, Carter said, “ifyou invest themoney and the time.”

Making that happenmight just start in April.

Maybe Louisiana Democrats —and Republicans —can dream bigger

Why can’tNew Orleanshost aDNC? Thousands attendfrom across the nation andthe world. It’s ahigh-proﬁle convention withlots of media attention, anditisabig boost to the local economy wherever it goes.

Since 1932, the DemocraticNational Convention hasbeen held in Colorado, Florida,Georgia,New Jersey and North Carolinaeach once; California,New York and Pennsylvania each thrice, and Illi-

nois yes, Illinois has hosted the big convention EIGHTtimes. Ilike Chicago forlots of reasons, except forabout four months of the year.But New Orleanshas aricher culture, signiﬁcantlybetter food moreincredible peopleper capita. Plus,wehave theMorial Convention Center,named after aDemocrat, and theCaesars Superdome, twoplaces within walking distance of hotels.

The GOPchose GeorgeH.W Bush as itspresidential nominee in NewOrleansin1988. DNC Executive Director Roger Lau said in astatementthatplanning for the2028 convention hasstarted. The Request forProposal is out. Will NewOrleans Democrats, and Louisiana Republican leaders, go forit?” Carter,Fields and other Democrats expect asuccessfulDNC visit,and they want something better andbigger.Republican Gov.Jeff Landryand U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy andJohnKennedy andall Republican congressional representatives should want thesame. It would be good forall of Louisiana.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com

Quin Hillyer

Will Sutton

Faimon Roberts

STAFF FILEPHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Senate PresidentCameron Henry

PRIME-TIME SHOWDOWN

LSU-SouthCarolinaended afterthis editionwenttopress. Forcomplete coverage,visit theadvocate.com

SPORTS

BRUTAL ENDING

UL designated hitterStevenSpalitta gets ahit againstMissouri State on SaturdayatRusso Park. UL

in extrainnings.

Cajuns coughupseven-run lead to fall to 0-2

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

In Friday’s season opener, Missouri State cruisedtoa six-run win over UL withfew memorable plays.

On Saturday,the visitingBears got thefullRagin’ Cajuns treatment in awacky 13-12 come-from-behind triumph over UL in 11 innings at Russo Park. MissouriState overcame a10-3 deﬁcit after seveninnings by outscoringthe Cajuns 10-2 therestofthe way Bryce Cermenelli’sRBI single and Gabe Roessler’s two-run homer in the11thput Missouri Stateup13-10.

UL got two runs in the bottomofthe 11th on sacriﬁce ﬂies after loading thebases withnobodyout, but the Cajuns failed theget thetying run home. The game beganwithaMardi Gras parade coming

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

ä Milwaukee at LSU 1P.M. SUNDAy,SECN+

If Zac Cowan demonstrated anything last season, it was the power of adominant changeup. He used it against righties and lefties. He threwittobothsidesoftheplate.Itdidn’tmatterwhatthecountwasorthe situation, it was the pitch he could always lean on. Despite throwing afastball thatrarely eclipsed 91 mph, Cowan could still fool Southeastern Conference hitters thanks to his changeup. The senior right-hander is back with the Tigers in 2026, but this season, he won’tbe alone in the dominantchangeup department. LSU fans, meet Kansas transferCooper Moore. Moore,inhis ﬁrst start forthe Tigerson Saturday against Milwaukee, struck out 11 batters in six inningsduring LSU’s5-3 win at Alex Box Stadium.The majority of theright-hander’sstrikeoutsended on the changeup, as he also mixed in afastballthat

down Reinhardt Boulevard just outside the ﬁrst-base line. The UL pitching staff got abit too generous in the top of the third with two walks and two hit batsmanasthe Cajuns trailed 2-0. Last season, the Cajuns walked 252 batters and hit88 more. In Saturday’sloss, UL walked nine batters and hit four more. In the bottom half of the third, UL coach MattDeggs had reason to smile.

Veteran ﬁrst baseman Lee Amedee tripled to right-center. Aftera strikeout, the Cajuns really unleashed their hittingattack.

Drew Markle’sinﬁeld single gotone run home before

ä See CAJUNS, page 3C

Fans can use the samethree words about how the New Orleans Pelicans have looked before the All-Star break as they could have used at this time last year Not very good. The wins just haven’tbeen there. As a result, neither has fanenthusiasm Here’salook back at the highs and lows(there will be moreofthe latter) of the season so far.

1. Green’s firing It took just 12 games to get to this one. The Pelicans lost their first six games and started 2-10 before executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars pulled the plug on the Willie Green era. Green was in his fifth season. He dealt with plenty of bad luck as faras injuries in his first four seasons, but the rocky start wastoo much forhim to overcome. It wasn’tjust that the Pelicans were losing but also how they werelosing that did him in.

2.Toosimilar The Pels are 15-41. This timeayear ago, they were13-42. So things are pretty much the same. Before the season began, most people thought the Pelicans had achance to makeaplay-in push if they could stay healthy.Well, they have been healthy forthe mostpart, but the results haven’t

An 18-game NFLseason is coming. It’s not amatter of if but when it happens. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants it. Team owners want it. And by and

Players Association interim director David White, who recently said the union has “no appetite foraregularseason 18th game.” The league and union will need to negotiate issues such as

Pelicans forward ZionWilliamson STAFFPHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

lost 13-12

2p.m.

1:30

11 a.m. Utah at Cincinnati ESPN

11 a.m. UTSA at Charlotte ESPNU

11 a.m. Maryland at Rutgers FS1 NoonIndiana at Illinois CBS Noon DenveratOmahaCBSSN

1p.m. South Florida at FAUESPN2

1p.m. Tulane at UABESPNU

2p.m. DrakeatN.IowaCBSSN

3p.m. Davidson at DaytonESPN2

3p.m. E. Kentucky at N.Alabama ESPNU

4p.m. Coll. Of Charl. at Campbell CBSSN

5p.m. Belmont at MurraySt. ESPN2

5p.m. Seton Hall at Butler FS1

6p.m. Towson at MonmouthCBSSN WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

11 a.m. Pittsburgh at SMU ACCN

11 a.m. Vanderbilt at Georgia SECN

Noon North Carolina at DukeABC

1p.m. Virginia at Stanford CW

1p.m. Kansas St. at Iowa St. ESPN

1p.m. Maryland at Ohio St. FS1

1p.m. Ole Miss at Kentucky SECN

2p.m. Texas at TennesseeABC

2p.m. Indiana at UCLA Peacock

3p.m. NorthwesternatPenn St. BTN

3p.m. NC State at Notre Dame ESPN

3p.m. Michigan St. at MichiganFS1

3p.m. Oklahoma at Alabama SECN

4p.m. Villanova at Creighton TRUTV

5p.m. Florida St. at Louisville ACCN

5p.m. Minnesota at WisconsinBTN

5p.m. AuburnatTexas A&M SECN

7p.m. Oregon at Washington BTN

7p.m. West Virginia at TCU FS1

WOMEN’S COLLEGE GYMNASTICS

3p.m. Clemson at Pittsburgh ACCN COLLEGESOFTBALL

8a.m. Missouri vs.DukeACCN

8a.m. JamesMadison vs.TexasA&M SECN

9a.m. LSUvs. UCLAESPN2

11 a.m.Northwesternvs.TexasA&M ESPN2

5p.m.Texas Tech vs.Nebraska ESPN

7p.m.Tennessee vs.Florida St.ESPN

COLLEGEWRESTLING

11 a.m. Nebraska at Indiana BTN

1p.m.Oklahoma St.atVirginia Tech ACCN

1p.m.IllinoisatNorthwestern BTN FISHING

7a.m.LippertBassmasterElite FS1 GOLF

Noon PGA: Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf

2p.m.PGA: Pebble Beach Pro-Am CBS

2p.m.Champions: Chubb Classic Golf HORSE RACING

2p.m.America’s Dayatthe RacesFS2 NBA

4p.m.NBA All-StarGame NBC, Peacock MEN’S SOCCER

5:30 a.m. Leeds UnitedatBirm. City ESPN2

7:55 a.m. Celtic at Kilmarnock CBSSN TENNIS

5a.m.ATP &WTA Tennis

1a.m.(Mon.) ATP& WTATennis

5a.m.(Mon.) ATP& WTATennis

Broussardtiesfor 5thnationallyinwins

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Over thepastcoupleofweeks, the St. Thomas Moreboysbasketball team has looked different. Or,considering the way the Cougars have been playing on both ends of the court, it may be more suitable to say they’vebeen dominant.

The Cougars, who havelooked like acompletely different team since Jan. 27, continued their winning ways Friday as they routed District 4-4A title contender David Thibodaux 57-29.

“I’m just so proud of this team,” Cougars coach Danny Broussard said. “A month ago, thisteam wasn’t anywherewhere we are now.They have reallybought in. I’m not sure they really bought in early on.

“That Dunham game hasturned us around. It gave us so much conﬁdence.Our guys and our coaches believe we could beat anybody now.Iwouldn’thave saidthat a month ago.”

The Cougars, who have won 10 consecutive games and 13 of their past 14, have won eight in arow since they beat Dunham 52-37.

“Tothink that we haveclimbed from No. 16 in the power rankings to No. 4, it really is amazing,” Broussardsaid. “This team has

proven alot of doubters wrong.”

Againstthe Bulldogs, the Cougars dominated every aspect of the game behind stiﬂing defense and patience on offense.The Cougars not onlyheld the Bulldogs to nine ﬁrst-half points, but they also enjoyed defensive scoreless stretches.

“Our offense is OK,but our defense was unbelievable,” said Broussard, whose Cougars held theBulldogswithout scoringfor at least ﬁve minutes on two occa-

sions in theﬁrst half. “You always want to stop ateam from doing what they do. We took away what they liked to do.”

The Cougars were ledbyRyan Robertson, whowas aforce not only as ascorer,but as arebounder and defender.Robertson recorded adouble-double with agame-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, as well as ablock and asteal.

“He’sbeen doing everything for us,” Broussardsaid. “That kid is scoring thebasketball, but

he also doesn’tget enough credit forchanginga lotofshots on defense. He’sour only big guy and he changesa lotofshots andrebounds the ball. He’sdoing alot for us. I’m glad he’sonour team.”

Cougars player Mack Tasman, whohit three 3-pointersinthe fourth quarter,finished with 12 points.

“Tasman is apretty good shooter,” Broussard said. “He did a great jobofmaking those corner threes for us.”

With the win,Broussard has 1,185careervictories in his 44 yearscoaching the Cougars. Friday’swin tiedhim with the legendary Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’sinNew Jersey for fifth all-time in high schoolbasketball history

“How crazy does that sound?” Broussard asked rhetorically. “I was telling people ‘Can you believe this? I’mgoing to tie Bob Hurley,one of thegreatest all time to do it.’ It really kind of just hit home. ItalkedtoBob,and he was genuinely excited forme. He said ‘I’ll be pulling foryou.’ To be mentioned with those names, it is truly remarkable. Ineverwould have imagined this. It’s just been ablessing.”

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

Iowa Statesnaps Kansas’winning streak

By The Associated Press

AMES,Iowa— MilanMomcilovic

scored 18 points andNo. 5Iowa State shook off aslow start to defeat No. 9Kansas 74-56 on Saturday,snapping the Jayhawks’ eight-game winning streak

The Cyclones (22-3,9-3 Big 12) began afive-gamestretch in which they play four ranked teams by taking control of this game in the first halfdespite struggling to make shots in the opening minutes.

Iowa State’sdefense held Kansas (19-6, 9-3)to31.6% shooting from the ﬁeld in the second half, including 1of8in3-pointers. NO.2 MICHIGAN 86, UCLA 56: In Ann Arbor,Michigan, YaxelLendeborg had 17 points andeight rebounds to lead No. 2Michigan over UCLA. Michigan is in position to be ranked No. 1inthe AP Top25for the first time since 2013.

No. 1Arizona lost its ﬁrst game Monday on the roadagainstNo. 9Kansas, giving the Wolverines (24-1,14-1 Big Ten) apathtothe top spot in the pollwith their 10th straight win.

TheBruins (17-8, 9-5)had won ﬁve of six games.

NO.3 HOUSTON78, KANSAS STATE64: In Houston, Emanuel Sharp had 23 points and six rebounds as No.3 Houston rallied from an early deficit to beatKansas State forthe Cougars’ sixth straight win. Sharp scored 14 points on 4of10 shooting in the ﬁrst half as Houston (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) built a33-19 halftime lead.

P.J. Haggerty scored 23 points to lead Kansas State (10-15, 1-11). Haggerty surpassed 2,000 points in his collegiate career in the ﬁrst half, becoming the ﬁfth current Division Iplayer to achieve the milestone.

NO.4 DUKE 67, NO.20CLEMSON54: In Durham, North Carolina, star freshman Cameron Boozer had 18 points and No. 4Duke held No.20 Clemson to 35% shooting.

Isaiah Evans added 17 points for theBlue Devils (23-2, 12-1 ACC), who made 11 of 16 shots after

ASSOCIATED

Iowa Stateforward Milan Momcilovicshoots the ball as Kansas guard TreWhite defends duringtheir game SaturdayinAmes, Iowa

halftime and pushed a31-26 edge past a20-point margin midway through thesecond half.

Carter Wellingscored 12 points for theTigers (20-6, 10-3).

NO.7 NEBRASKA 68, NORTHWESTERN 49: In Lincoln,Nebraska,Pryce Sandfort scored 29 points, Sam Hoibergadded 14 andNo. 7Nebraska shookoff aslow start.

TheCornhuskers (22-3, 11-3 Big Ten) overcame aseasonhigh-tying 18 turnoversand poor shooting in the ﬁrst half to sweep the season series with the Wildcats (10-16, 2-13).

NO.11NORTH CAROLINA79, PITTSBURGH 65: In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, JarinStevensonand Seth Trimble scored 19 points eachtohelpNo.11 NorthCarolina beat Pittsburgh and secure another 20-win season.

The short-handed TarHeels played without freshman forward Caleb Wilson (bone fracture in left hand) and center Henri Veesaar (illness/lower body injury), who hadboth started every game this season andare the team’stop two scorers andrebounders.

Luka Bogavac andZayden High, who had acareer-best game, each scored 15 pointsfor North Carolina (20-5, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). Cameron Corhenhad 23 points

and Roman Siulepa added 14 pointsfor Pitt (9-17, 2-11).

NO.13PURDUE78, IOWA 57: In Iowa City,Iowa, C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris each had14points to help No. 13 Purdue beat Iowa. The Boilermakers (20-5, 11-3 BigTen), wrapping up astretch of sixofeight games on theroad, extended their winning streak to four with an efﬁcient offense that consistently found openings. Iowa (18-7, 8-6),which had won six of seven,lostfor thesecond time this week.

NO.14FLORIDA92, NO.25KENTUCKY

83: In Gainesville, Florida, Xaivian Lee scored 22 points, Urban Klavzar had 19 and No. 14 Florida won its 10th game in its past 11 outings. Lee andKlavzar took advantage of Florida’spaint presence andhit acombined nine 3-pointers. Florida(19-6, 10-2 Southeastern Conference) had been 1-4 against Kentucky (17-8, 8-4) under coach Todd Golden. But the Gators led wire to wire in this one and ﬁnished with a45-37 rebounding advantage.

NO.17ST. JOHN’S 79,PROVIDENCE

69: In Providence, Rhode Island, DylanDarlinghad 23 points and eight rebounds and No.17St. John’sscored eight straight points aftera fracas that resulted in six ejectionstotakethe lead andearn

Central Florida softball takes down No. 12 LSU

The No. 12 LSU softball team suffereda5-1 loss to Central Florida on Saturday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida. The loss dropped LSU to 7-3 on the seasonwhile UCFimproved to 8-2.

LSU pitcher Tatum Clopton (21) took the loss, allowing six hits, two earned runs and two walks in 32/3 innings. Reliever Cece Cellura pitched thelast31/3 innings with two strikeouts, ﬁve hits, two unearned runs and one walk.

Jalia Lassiter turned in amultihit gamefor LSU, finishing 3 for 3and scoring one run. Maci Bergeron went2for 4and had the lone RBI forLSU UCF pitcher Isabella Vega (3-1) snagged the winafter 31/3 innings in relief

No. 1Connecticut women pick up 43rd straight win

Azzi Fudd scored 25 points, Sarah Strong had19ofher 22 in the second half, and No.1UConn remained unbeaten with a71-56 victory over Marquette on Saturday in Milwaukee.

UConn (27-0, 16-0 BigEast) has won 43 straight games andhasn’t lost since an 80-76 decision at Tennessee more than ayearago. The Huskies also have won63straight Big East games, counting regularseason and tournament matchups. Marquette (16-10, 10-7) did manage to end one UConn streak. UConn had won21straight games by at least 25 points ,which represented thelongest such streak in thelast25seasons.The last team to lose to UConn by fewer than 25 points was No. 7Michigan, which fell 72-69.

Bhatia overcomes weather, takes Pebble Beach lead PEBBLE BEACH,Calif. Pebble Beach started to show anasty side Saturday with wind that wobbledgolf ballsonthe greens in chilly Paciﬁc air.Akshay Bhatia did enough early with six birdies in seven holes thatcarriedhim to a4-under68 and atwo-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Butthe worst might still be to come. Starting times were moved up one hour for the ﬁnal round with aforecast of big wind and rain. Low scores were still available. CollinMorikawa, the two-timemajor champion trying to end more than two years without avictory, had11birdies in hisround of 62 thatshothim up 25 spots on the leaderboard to athree-way tie for secondwith JakeKnapp (66) and Sepp Straka (67).

its 11th straight victory Bryce Hopkins hadnine points andninereboundsfor theRed Storm (20-5, 13-1Big East), andthe ex-Friarsstar was in the middle of it all when he wastaken down by a hard foul with 14:25 left and Providence (11-15, 4-11) up 40-39. By the time thingswere sorted out, four St. John’sand twoProvidence players had been ejected, and the Red Storm was on its way to an 8-0 run to take alead that was never threatened.

NO.19VANDERBILT82, TEXAS A&M 69: In Nashville, Tennessee, Tyler Nickel scored 25 points to lead No. 19 Vanderbilt. AK Okereke added aseasonhigh 23 points while Devin McGlockton had17for theCommodores(21-4, 8-4SEC),who have won ﬁve of six since athree-game losing skid in mid-January Marcus Hill had 20 points for theAggies (17-8, 7-5 SEC).

NO.22BYU 90, COLORADO 86, OT: In Provo, Utah, Rob Wright scored a career-high 39 points and No. 22 BYU beat Colorado in overtime. It was Wright’ssecond straight 30-point-plus game after scoring 30 at Baylor on Tuesday.AJ Dybantsa added20points, 13 rebounds, and eight assiststohelp theCougars (19-6, 7-5 Big 12) win without second-leading scorer Richie Saunders. Isaiah Johnson had 27 pointsto lead Colorado (14-12, 4-9).

NO.24LOUISVILLE 82, BAYLOR 71: In Fort Worth, Texas, standout freshman Mikel Brownhad apart of every point during Louisville’s go-ahead runearly in the second half in theCardinals’ win. The Cardinals(19-6) went ahead to staywithan11-3run thatstartedwhen Brownhad the assist on J’Vonne Hadley’sbasket with 18:20 left to snap a39-alltie Brown made threefree throws less than aminute later after being fouled on along shot, then had back-to-back stealsand immediately followed with assists.

Diamondbacks

bring back RHP Gallen on 1-year deal

Right-hander ZacGallenhas agreed to a$22,025,000, one-year contract to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 2023 All-Star,aclient of agentScottBoras,was seeking a multiyearcontract, butafter nothing acceptable materialized, he’s coming back to the desert where he’s spentthe majorityofhis bigleague career The value of the contract is equal to the qualifying offer that Gallen turneddown in November after he becameafree agent.

Gallen had his worst season in 2025, ﬁnishing with a13-15 record and 4.83 ERA. But his velocity was still good and he performed better after the All-Star break with a3.97 ERAoverhis ﬁnal13starts.He had a$13.5 million salary

Brewers pickupversatile ex-Angels player Rengifo

Former Los AngelesAngels infielder Luis Rengifohas agreed to termsonaone-year,$3.5 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rengifo’s contract also includes a$10 millionmutual option for 2027.

Rengifo, 28, had spent his entire seven-yearcareer with the Angels. He batted .238 with a.287 onbase percentage, nine homers, 43 RBIs and10steals last season while producing career highs in games(147) andat-bats(541).That followed a2024 season in which he batted .300 with a.347 on-base percentage, six homers, 30 RBIsand 24 steals in 78 games. The versatile Rengifo hasplayed 409 games at secondbase, 199 at third, 97 at shortstop and 51 in the outﬁeld during his career

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

St. Thomas Morecoach DannyBroussard tied BobbyHurleyonthe nation’sall-time winning list for high school coaches on Friday

MEN’STOP 25 ROUNDUP

UL softball scores 8inrow to stun OleMiss

CAJUNS

Continued from page1C

Noah Lewis and Max Mandino loaded the bases with successive bunt singles.

That set up true freshman shortstop Blaze Rodriguez, and his single chased home two runs to give UL the leadat3-2. The rally got even sweeter when Steven Spalitta drove home two more with a single to left for aﬁve-runinning.

The lead grew to 7-2 with two

WALKER

Continued from page1C

changed. Finishing games has been their biggest downfall. The Pels have the third-worstrecord in the NBA. The good news is the schedule lightens up some for the remaining 26 games, especially considering the Pels play several teams that appear to be in full tank mode.

3. 5-game winning streak The Pelicans reeled off ﬁve consecutive victoriesinmid-December.Itincluded awin where the Pels rallied from a25-point hole to beat the Houston Rockets. The other wins came against the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. Other than Houston, none of those teams likely will make the playoffs.But still, seeingthe Pelicans reel offﬁve straightwinslooked like they may have turned acorner. But the best they’ve done since then was putting together apairof two-game winning streaks.

4. Zion’savailability Zion Williamson’scareer has

LSU

Continued from page1C

sat around 92-93 mph andabig curveball. Moore allowedonly one earned run —asolohomerun in the fourth inning.

“By no means comparing, but it’s asimilarthing to Kade Anderson,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “He’s really hard to plan against because hehasalotofwaystogethittersout.” Moore’sonlymistake came on a fastball that Bradyn Horn blasted into the left-ﬁeld stands. He exited the game after the sixth inning but later arrivedatthe news conference with acut on his right index ﬁnger and bloodied pants.

“I think the pants are going to make it,” Moore said, “and the ﬁnger is going to be just ﬁne.” Moore was among LSU’sbest pitchers throughout the fall and during preseason scrimmages. He threw strikes and missed bats with his off-speed pitches, most notably his changeup. That continued on Saturday as 61 of his 76 pitches were for strikes and nine of his 11 strikeouts came in the opening four innings.

“I’m really confident in my changeup; it’sareally good pitch,” Moore said. “But Ithink all of my other pitches complement it really well.” Despite dominating Panther hitters, Moore exited with just a one-run lead, leaving it up to the bullpen to maintain the Tigers’ advantage. LSU ﬁrst turnedtosophomore right-hander Mavrick Rizy, who tossed 12/3 innings before hitting abatter and exiting with two outs in the seventh. Junior-college transfer Ethan

Otto helpsCajuns rallytoacomeback winoverRebels

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Much like theﬁrstweekend,the UL softball team displayed signs of being thecardiac Ragin’Cajuns during an 8-5 comeback win over Ole Miss on Saturday at Lamson Park.

Down 5-0 early,the Cajuns scored in each of the last ﬁve innings, highlighted by Brooke Otto’swalk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Cajuns improved to 5-2 heading into agame againstPrairieViewlater on Saturday.Ole Miss droppedto6-4 with the loss. Forthe second straight day,Ole Miss jumpedonUL, first with a homer and then with some good fortune.

ä Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at UL 1P.M. SUNDAy

Madi George provided the pop with atwo-out, two-run home run in theﬁrst offofULpitcher Julianne Tipton. In thesecondinning, Tipton walkedleadoff batter Kennedy Bunker.One outlater,Grace Thompson’spop-up turnedinto abad-bounceRBI double before two buntschasedhome twomore runs fora5-0 Ole Miss lead.

TheCajuns ﬁnally gottheir bats going in the third. Mia Liscano walked ahead of an RBI single from Kennedy Marceaux. Lily Knox later addeda run-scoring single to cut the lead to 5-2.

In thefourth, Otto ledoff withadouble and scored when Marceaux came through again with an RBI single to inch closer at 5-3.

Ole Miss changed pitchers to Kyra Aycock, who was promptly

greetedwitha one-outMadyson

Manning double and aKnox sacrifice fly after awild pitch to makeit 5-4 after five.

Otto led off the sixth with awalk and scored on Haley Hart’sbasesloaded force play at third to knot the gameat5-5.

Knox andCeciliaVasquezset the table in the seventh with oneout singles before Otto ended the game.

Knox, Otto and Marceauxall had two hits to power UL’s 10-hit attack, compared to four hits for the Rebels.

Tipton was replaced in the circle by Sage Hoover after hitting the leadoff batter in the top of the sixth. Tiptonallowed five runs (threeearned) on threehits, four walks and struck out ﬁve. Hoover improved to 2-1 with the win, givingupnorunsonone hit two walks andstriking outone in twoinnings.

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

more runs in the fourth, thanks to Mandino’s two-rundouble.

AndrewHerrmann started for UL and threw ﬁveinnings and99 pitches.Heallowedtworunsontwo hits, ﬁvewalks and struck out six.

True freshman Sawyer Pruitt showed his potential withtwo inningsofrelief, allowingone run on three hits, no walks and strikingout four on 50 pitches. He’s still expected to start Tuesday’s game atRice.

UL added three more runs in theseventh,including two driven in on Donovan LaSalle’s two-run

beenplaguedbyinjuries, but he’s playedin30consecutive games, hislongest stretch of availability since entering the league in 2019. It hasn’t translated into wins, but to see Williamson address the biggestﬂaw in his game has been refreshing to see. And while I know players shouldn’tget pats on theback for doing what they are supposed to do, at least Williamson has made sure he’sthere for his teammates.

5. No Poole party Biggest disappointment? JordanPoolewas supposed to be a keypartofthisteam. It’swhy he’s thesecond-highest-paid player on theroster.Only Williamson makes more. Poole hasn’tplayed in the last nine games and his spot in the rotation looks to be gone forgood. The 3-point shooting(33.6%) and championship pedigree he was supposed to bring haven’tmaterialized.

6. Beywatch While Poole hasn’tbeen what thePelicanshavehoped for,the other player involved in the CJ McCollumtrade has exceeded expectations. Saddiq Bey missed all of last season with the Washington Wizards while recovering

LSU 5, Milwaukee3

Milwaukee LSU (0-2) (2-0) ab rh bi ab rh bi

O’Connell

0Dardar2b2 00 0 Glusick ph 10 00 Jh. Pearsonph1 00 0 Horn lf 422 1Caraway 3b 312 0 Schmidt, 2b 311 0Serna Jr. c3 00 0 Holmesss4 01 0Stanﬁeldlf3 12 0 Ellis 3b 400 0

TOTALS 36 39 3TOTALS 30 585 Milwaukee 000 100 002 —3 91

LSU 002 000 03X —5 80 E— Holmes (2). DP —Milwaukee 1. LOB— Milwaukee 9; LSU 4. 2B —Kibler (1); Schmidt (1); Milam (2); Arrambide (2); Caraway (1); Stanﬁeld (1). HR —Horn (1).HBP —Kibler; Ross; Schmidt. SF —Curiel (1).SB-Curiel (1). Milwaukee IP HR ER BB SO

Ehmke, L(0-1) 7.04 21 23 Hrin 1.04 33 00

LSU IP HR ER BB SO

Moore, W(1-0) 6.04 11 011

Rizy 1.20 00 03

Plog 0.01 00 00

Dathe 0.11 11 01 Cowan0.2 31 102 Fontenot, S(1) 0.10 00 00 WP —Mueller 2, Riel, Kuhnke2.HPB —by Evans (Spence), by Williams (Ross),by Andrews(Yorke), by Riel (Milam), by Kuhnke (Harden). BK —Mueller.PB– Arrambide. Umpires —HP: JaverroJanuary 1B: Danny Cricks 2B: Brandon Folks 3B:Clayton Hamm, Time —3:37. A— 11,582

Plog replaced Rizy,but thelefthander struggled in his first appearance for LSU. He surrendered asingle and threw awild pitch that put two runners in scoring position.Hethen came out for righthanded DivisionIItransferDax Dathe.

Entering the gameona1-1 count, Dathe threw two sweepers and a sliderto record LSU’s 15th strikeout of the day to escape the jam. He letout ayellashehoppedoff themound,sending ashockwave of energythrough atense crowd. “Wefeel good about what he can do for this team,” Johnson said of

single.

Unfortunately for UL, the bullpen wasn’tanywherenearmidseason form. First, reliever Tyler Papenbrock hada roughCajuns debut,yielding fiveruns in athird of an inning with two hits, two walks and ahit batsman. That forced projected closer Cody Braschtoenter the game with oneout in the top of the eighth. He failedtocollect his first Division Isave, giving up five runs, seven hits,two walks,four wild pitches and three strikeouts over 22/3 innings and 54 pitches.

from atorn ACLsuffered the season before. He’sbeen one of thePels’ most consistent players. He’saveraging 16.5 pointsand 5.9 rebounds while starting 41 games. Not bad for aplayer who was looked at as an afterthought in the trade.

7. Murphy’sshooting

The best individual performance of the season was Trey Murphy going off for acareerhigh 44 pointsagainst theMilwaukee Bucks. Murphy set afranchiserecordfor most3-pointers in agame with12. He and Steph Curry are the only twoplayers this season to make thatmany treys in agame. Murphy also became the franchise’sall-time leader in made 3-pointersthis season, surpassing McCollum

8.The rookies Only 10 rookies are selected for theRising Stars Game, which was played Friday night to start off All-Star weekend. Twoof those players were Pelicans, which tells you all you need to know about the season they’ve had. Derik Queen has recorded two triple-doubles, and Jeremiah Fearswas two assists shy of recording one in Wednesday’s

Max Knight had struck out three straight times, but he led off the ninth with asolo homerfor Missouri State.Then Jax Ryan doubled and scored on Gabe Roessler’stwo-out RBI double to tie it.

In the topofthe 10th,Brasch encountered runners on the corners with one out but got adouble play to escape the jam. But the Bears got to Brasch in the11th to send the Cajuns to a frustrating 0-2 start.

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

loss to the MiamiHeat. Fears has played in every gameand Queen has appeared in all but one. Dumarsfound two of the best players in the draftclass.

9.The trade

All types of traderumors swirled around the Pelicans prior to thedeadline last week, but they made only one move, trading fan favorite Jose Alvarado to theNew York Knicks for Dalen Terry,who waswaived the next day.The Pels also got two second-round draftpicks and somecash. The roster after the All-Star break will look like it did before thebreak, except the team’smost energetic player is now missing.

10. Borrego’s audition The Pels were2-10 under Green. They are 13-31 since Borrego took over,but they are 5-5 since Borrego wenttothe starting lineupofWilliamson, Murphy,Bey,Queen and Herb Jones. How well that starting ﬁve does after theAll-Star break could decideBorrego’sfuture in New Orleans. It’ll also determine whether the post All-Star part of theseason is as bad as the ﬁrst half was.

Dathe. “Just maybeaname that we haven’ttalked about awhole bunch, but Ithink we will.” Milwaukee(0-2) eventually got tworuns off of theLSU bullpen in theninth, but by then it was too late. LSU (2-0) hadscored three runsintheeighthtotakea5-1lead. “Wehaven’tplayed our brand of baseball that we want to play,” junior Steven Milam said, “but you can skin acat in many different ways.” The LSUbats got off to another slowstart Saturday.The Tigers didn’tput adent in the scoreboard until thethird inning, when sophomore Derek Curiel hit asacriﬁce ﬂy and juniorJake Brown singled home another runtogiveLSU a 2-0 lead.

LSUcontinued to struggle afterthe third. Outside of thatinning, the Tigers were 1for 18 at theplate heading into the eighth. They had justone extra-base hit before Milamcrackedatwo-run

double intothe left-center gap in theeighth. “I’ll tell you this game reminded me alot of the Omaha game last year,but we won (this time). And Ithink that’sa good sign,” Johnson said.“Butthere were a lot of similarities. The third time through thebatting order was awful. Imean, it was awful fromjust …itwas bad. And Idon’twant to get into the specifics of it, but they’re totally controllable things that we can do better,and we will do better.”

LSU ﬁnishes itsthree-game series with Milwaukee at Alex Box Stadium on Sunday.First pitch is setfor 1p.m., andthe game will be available to stream on SEC Network+.

Email Koki Rileyat koki.riley@theadvocate.com. For more LSUsports updates, sign up for ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

DUNCAN

happy by trading apreseason game foraregular-season oneintheir 10game season-ticketpackages. “Wealways say,‘What do the fans want? What do the fans really think is important?’ ”Goodell said before last season. “And I think it’sclear they want more regular-season games versus preseason games.”

Such amove would create a ripple effect on the NFL calendar, though. It likely would push the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend. League ofﬁcials believe that holding the Super Bowl on the three-day Presidents Day weekend would make it more convenient for people to travel to the big game and host Super Bowl parties.

“I think 18 weekswould getyou to that point, and Ithink it would be areally great move,” Goodell said. So when will it happen?

Some think it could comeas early as 2027.

The lingering absence of aspecific date forSuperBowl LXII in Atlantaistieddirectlytothe possibilityofthe games expanding forthe 2027 season,accordingtoareport by MikeFlorioofNBC Sports.

Likewise, I’ve heard the league has asked cities that plan to bid on future Super Bowls to block out hotel rooms for three weeks in February in case the league schedule changes in 2029 and 2030. In most cities, having the Super Bowl pushed back to midFebruary isn’taproblem. But in New Orleans, mid-February often means Mardi Gras. And that could be something the city has to deal with if the NFL expands the regular season to 18 games and pushes the Super Bowl into mid-February Nevertheless, Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, said we need not worry

“Wedon’tknow what the NFL is going to do, but we’re not concerned with it,” he said. Cicero said he and his staffhave considered all future options, even in 2031, which is the city’s next Super Bowltarget. If the NFLgoes to an 18-game schedule, it likely would push the 2031 Super BowltoFeb. 16. Mardi Gras DayisFeb. 25 that year By my count, there would be only two Super Bowls between now and 2050 that wouldn’tfall within the two-week window of Mardi Gras: 2038 and 2041. “We’re not concerned with it,” said Cicero, who, along with New Orleans Saints officials, helps spearhead the city’sbid forSuper Bowls. “Wecan handle it.” There is precedent here. In 2002, the city moved Mardi Gras parades to accommodate the Super Bowlafter it wasmoved back aweek because of Sept. 11-related delays. Parades scheduled forthe weekend of the gamewere moved to the previous weekend to manage security,traffic and police resources. The city compensated Carnival krewes forlosses. Similarly,Cicero said city officials have plenty of time to plan around potential conflicts in the future. He said his staffhas plotted out the potential scenarios forfuture Super Bowls in case an 18-game NFLseason becomes a reality.It’snothing the city can’t handle with proper planning.

“Itwon’taffect us any more than it has in the past,” Cicero said. “Mardi Gras always moves around. It’s the samechallenge we have forevery other event.” Let’scertainly hope so. New Orleansisfamous forhosting Super Bowls andMardiGras. No one wantsittobecome an either/or proposition.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU shortstop Steven Milam dives to reach aMilwaukee grounder up the middle in the third inning on SaturdayatAlex Box Stadium. LSU won5-3.

STAFF PHOTO By BRADKEMP

UL third baseman BrookeOtto gets ahit againstOle Miss during agame SaturdayatLamson Park.Otto hit awalk-off, three-runhome runinthe bottom of theseventh to beat Ole Miss 8-5.

Stolz wins speedskating gold again

American drawing comparisons to legend Heiden

BY HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press

BRAZIL SKIER GIVES SOUTH AMERICA ITS FIRST WINTER

OLYMPICS GOLD: The party in Brazil this week isn’t limited to the annual Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro.

Alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, pictured above, delivered the first gold medal by a South American athlete at the Winter Olympics by surging to victory in the giant slalom.

The 25-year-old, whose father is Norwegian and mother is from Brazil, posted a two-run time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds, beating defending champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by 0.58 seconds. Odermatt’s teammate, Loic Meillard, earned bronze on the snowy and slippery Stelvia course.

“I was skiing with my heart, and when you ski the way you are, anything is possible,” Pinheiro Braathen said.

FLOCK EARNS FIRST SKELETON

OLYMPIC GOLD AT 36: Janine Flock’s long road to Olympic gold is over The 36-year-old Austrian skeleton slider — winless in 16 all-time appearances at the Olympics or world championships — won gold at the Cortina Sliding Centre, the biggest victory of her long career Flock jumped to the front during her first run and stayed there throughout the competition. She navigated four runs in 3 minutes, 49.02 seconds. Susanne Kreher and Jacqueline Pfeifer, both of Germany, took silver and bronze.

“I can’t believe it. It doesn’t feel real right now,” Flock said.“It’s a dream to do this.

DUTCH SKATER PICKS UP

SECOND GOLD IN SHORT TRACK: Jens van ’t Wout of the Netherlands won the gold medal in 1,500-meter short track speedskating, adding to his Olympic haul after winning gold in the 1,000 earlier this week.

South Korea’s Daeheon Hwang took the silver medal and Roberts Kruzbergs of Latvia was third for bronze as Canadian short track star William Dandjinou had to settle for fifth. Van ’t Wout raised his arms after crossing the line in 2 minutes, 12.219 seconds and skated over to a sea of orange-clad teammates to share hugs at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

ANTHONY EARNS SECOND GOLD

IN MOGULS: JakaraAnthony produced another gold in freestyle skiing for Australia, winning in the Winter Olympics debut of dual moguls.

Anthony avoided mistakes during all five of her single-elimination races to win the second gold of her career

— he was the Olympic champion in individual moguls four years ago — and second gold for Australia in Livigno. Countryman Cooper Woods upset Mikael Kingsbury in the men’s individual moguls early in the Games.

American Jaelin Kauf took silver, the third silver medal of her Olympic career Teammate Elizabeth Lamely who won gold in individual moguls earlier this week, earned bronze.

— Associated Press

MILAN For a while now, Jordan Stolz’s talent and dominance as a speedskater, and his much-anticipated potential for Olympic success, prompted many to repeatedly mention his name — prematurely, no doubt alongside that of Eric Heiden. Now they really do belong in the same sentence, at least in one regard.

Stolz established himself as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, midway to his goal of four at the Milan Cortina Games, by winning the 500 meters on Saturday to follow up his victory in the 1,000. Those twin triumphs allowed Stolz, a 21-year-old from Wisconsin, to join Heiden as the only men to complete the 5001,000 double in speedskating at one Olympics.

“I mean, I guess it’s halfway but it’s hard to say it’s like a 50% chance to get the other two,” Stolz said. “Because you never know what can happen.”

Heiden of course, completed a record sweep of all ﬁve individual events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games for the U.S., taking everything from the 500 to the 10,000. With Heiden in the stands Saturday, Stolz ﬁnished the 500 in an Olympic-record time of 33.77 seconds, after also setting a Games mark in his win in the 1,000. Both times, the silver went to Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, who clocked 33.88 in the shortest speedskating event. Both times,

they raced head-to-head in the same heat.

“We push each other He’s really strong. I’m also really strong. It’s really cool to see,” Stolz said. “I guess I like being paired together It makes it more fun for the viewers.”

Stolz figured the 500 would be his toughest test in Milan He was leading out of the final curve. They were even entering the last stretch. But Stolz, who overcame a deficit in the 1,000, turned on the speed and leaned across the line first again. De Boo slipped and fell into the wall afterward

while Stolz skated past and shook his right ﬁst. Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil got the bronze in 34.26. The last American to win Olympic gold in the men’s 500 was Joey Cheek in 2006. The soft-spoken Stolz acknowledges that, yes, his aims are high, and, sure, he is ﬂattered by the comparisons to Heiden. But Stolz, who isn’t entered in the 5,000 or 10,000 in Milan, also knows he isn’t trying to recreate the same sort of unprecedented and all-encompassing performance turned in by Heiden.

Ukrainian skier gets Valentine’s proposal

Freeskier Kotsar says yes after big-air qualifier

BY JOSEPH WILSON and EDDIE PELLS Associated Press

LIVIGNO, Italy Love was in the air — make that the big air — for freeskier Kateryna Kotsar of Ukraine on Valentine’s Day

On a cold, perfect evening in the Italian Alps, Kotsar got the sweetest gift of all after she qualified for the Olympic big air ﬁnal Friday night Her boyfriend, Bohdan Fashtryha, dropped to one knee and popped the question

Kotsar said yes.

Isn’t that romantic?

“I think he was nervous enough. It was so cute, to be honest,” Kotsar said, showing off her glittering diamond ring while still in her crash helmet and snow-splattered ski suit.

“I’m still excited and can’t understand what happened tonight because it’s two really huge things for me,” she said after qualifying for Monday’s big air ﬁnal, where the 25-year-old will compete against defending champion Eileen Gu and 10 others for a spot on the podium.

Kotsar, a Kyiv native, is well aware her Olympic engagement offers a welcome distraction from the realities in her wartorn country

“You live without electricity without heating, without opportunity to wash your clothes and do some pretty simple things”

skiing big-air qualifications in Livigno, Italy, on Saturday.

in Kyiv, she said.

Kotsar also spoke of the tinge of guilt she experiences when she is abroad, training in Austria or Switzerland for long spells.

“I have time to relax in a warm shower and something like that,” she said, contrasting that experience with what her family is going through. “And they don’t have this opportunity so much like me So it’s really hard for them.”

Kotsar, who ranks ﬁfth in the big air standings this season, said she had a premonition something important was going to happen when she woke up Saturday. But even though it was Feb. 14, having her boyfriend of two-and-a-half years ask for her hand was not what

she was thinking.

“(Sometimes) I have some feelings that something great will happen and today I had that feeling, but I (thought) it’s about ﬁnals,” she said with a laugh.

As if Saturday night wasn’t special enough, Kotsar’s parents were with her in Livigno to watch her jump in person for the very ﬁrst time.

“Usually my mom said it’s too nervous for her, and she just waits for my call after competition when I said everything OK, I didn’t crash,” Kotsar said.

On this memorable night, everything was more than OK.

Now that she has a diamond, could there be some gold, silver or bronze to go with it?

“I have a few tricks to try here, and we’ll see,” she said.

HIGHLIGHTS

Still, Stolz does have a real shot at the four medals, maybe even four golds, he is seeking at his second Winter Games.

“He goes to the starting line,” said Heiden, who’s also from Wisconsin and, like Stolz, learned to skate on a backyard frozen pond, “and I would suspect he thinks he’s probably going to win.” Heiden greeted Stolz when he left the ice with the gold after the 500 and gave him a hug. The first gold? Stolz’s father, Dirk, said Jordan slept with it on his pillow the night after the 1,000.

U.S. men rally past Denmark

BY STEPHEN WHYNO Associated Press

MILAN Jack Eichel scored off his own faceoff win a minute after setting up Brady Tkachuk’s ﬁrst of two goals the same way, and the U.S. rode its top line to a 6-3 defeat of Denmark on Saturday night, keeping pace with also-unbeaten Canada for the top seed in the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics. The U.S. bounced back from goaltender Jeremy Swayman getting beaten by a shot from 95 feet away, just inside the center red line, 11 minutes in. Swayman won’t have to kick himself too badly for the blunder after some of his most talented teammates stepped up to make the long-distance goal from Nicholas B Jensen and another soft one from Phillip Bruggisser with 2.6 seconds left in the second period moot. The goals by Tkachuk and Eichel — two-thirds of the top line along with Brady’s brother, Matthew — midway through the second period tied it and gave the U.S the lead. Defenseman Noah Hanifin added another when his shot got through Mads Sogaard and trickled over the goal line a bit later, providing some breathing room. Jake Guentzel ﬁred a one-timer past Sogaard with a little more than 12 minutes left, and Brady Tkachuk scored his second off a feed from Jack Hughes after Sogaard exited with injury and was relieved by Frederik Dichow

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LUCA BRUNO

Gold medalist Jordan Stolz of the U.S celebrates after the men’s 500 meters speedskating race on Saturday in Milan.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABBIE PARR

Kateryna Kotsar of Ukraine gets a proposal from Bohdan Fashtryha, front, as she competes in the women’s freestyle

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

Birdwatching teachesme thebeautyof waiting

Last fall, my friend Tom reached outone Saturdayto report that his yard was bare of birds, though he’d set out three feeders full of seed. How long, Iwondered, had the feeders been in place?

“An hour,” Tomtold me, laughing at his own impatiencetoget results.

Ireminded him,asIoften remind myself, that birdwatching isn’tlike ordering amovie on Netﬂix.Sometimes, you have to wait awhile for something to see.Itwas late afternoon, and songbirds often eat more in early morning or around dusk. Iheaded over to Tom’shouse to help him keep vigil.

We each poured something cool to drink and sat down in a quiet corner of the yard, chatting softly as we cast an occasional glanceatthe feeders to see if they’d drawn their ﬁrst visitor We talked about jobs and children, friends and neighbors, the passage of time, and whether an old oak afew feet away had reached theend of its life.

Tom’sfeeders remained vacant as we caught up on things, though he shared avideothe next morning of achickadee arriving to sample the feast.I wasn’tsure what I’d liked the

ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D

Didthe royal Windsors bowtoRex andComus royalty?

BYROBIN MILLER Staff writer

ROYALTREATMENT

The year was 1950. Edward, Duke of Windsor,abdicated the throne of England14 years earlier to marry American socialite and twicedivorced Wallis Warﬁeld Simpson, passing the crown to his brother,Albert, who became King George VI and was the father of Queen Elizabeth II. As for the former king, Edward was free to do what he liked.In 1950, he and his duchess hopped an ocean liner and crossed the Atlantic to North America. New Orleans’ Mardi Gras was their eventual destination. They arrived in the Crescent Cityto

ä See CURIOUS, page 4D

BY JA’KORIMADISON | Staff writer

As Carnival royalty parades throughcrowds, waving andtossing beads, their elaboratecostumesstand out even before theﬁrst throw reaches spectators. Behind thousands of beadsand stones —and hundreds of hours of handwork —isConnie Perry,a Louisiana seamstress whohas dressed generations of Mardi Gras kings and queens

PROVIDED PHOTO

Connie Perry’scustom costumedesigns for aMardi Gras court

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Connie Perrydisplays pieces of atrain in progress recently at her home in Lafayette.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Connie Perrydiscusses some of her gowns.

PROVIDED PHOTO By ARTHUR HARDy

The Dukeand Duchess of Windsor at NewOrleans’ Mardi Gras in 1950

Troubadourscrownsqueen,celebrates73years of magic

Maisy Prellop, Caroline Ayers. Perri Prelop, Bethany Broussard and Ramsey Ayers

The Order of theTroubadours held its 73rd ball and pageant on Saturday,Feb. 7at theFrem Boustany Convention Center in Lafayette. Hundredsgathered to watch royalty explore the“Wines of Aquitaine” as they took amystical trip through thevineyards.

Royal costumes represented cabernet, sauvignon blanc, and atrue favorite, Champagne. Eric Movassaghi reigned as King Richard Coeur de Lion LXXIII, and Emily Bruossard reignedas Queen Berengaria of Navarre LXXIII.

Members of The Kreweof Troubadours gathered on a beautiful Friday afternoon,Feb. 6, to honor this year’sQueen Berengaria LXXIII Emily Broussard. The splendid French-themed celebration took place at L’Eglise in Abbeville. The gorgeous setting included a gourmet lunch, and charmingﬂower arrangements on every table. Emily’sfamily has along history in the Krewe of Troubadours. Beginning with her greataunt, AzalieHolland, who reigned as Queen Berengariaof Navarre 12. Her greataunt Christie wasBerengaria17. Hergreat grandfather reigned as Richard Coeur de Lion 21st. Broussard’smother, Carolyn Broussard, reigned as Queen Berengariathe 44th in 1996 along with her grandfather, George Crain, Jr., who reigned as King Richard. The historic momentwas bittersweet for family members. Former queen, krewe member, and leader,Azalie CrainHolland,recentlydied, leaving many family and krewe members mourning her loss. They remembered her as avibrant and talented member of the Troubadours family, recalling that Holland was helping to hand bead the queen’scostume just days before her passing.

This year,the Queen, her Lady Edith Juliet Cieslak, and ﬁve royal maids will celebrate all the history and tradition of Troubadours. Thetheme of the ball is “The Wines of Aquitaine.” That will be especially ﬁtting as they raise aglass and toast to Emily’sGreat Aunt Azalie, celebrating her life andall she meant to the krewe.

Troubadours is known for puttingonaspectacular show.The stunning costumes require hours of work adding rhinestones and beads (more than140,000 of them) by hand. Forthisball and pageant, theroyal robes were especially elaborate which made thepresentation even more visually impressive King and Queen were dressed in gold andcovered in glitteringjewels. Lady Edith, Juliet Cieslak, and SirKenneth, Richard Herrmann, wore turquoise robes adorned with gold trim and jewels.

The krewe also took aspecial moment to remember one of their own who passed away recently.

Queen Berengaria 12, Azalie Holland, was alongtime member and great aunt of this year’squeen,Emily Broussard.Members and guests remembered herasadedicated woman who loved Mardi Gras and was proudtoshare in thetradition

The crowd shared in honoring her legacy andcelebrated all those traditionsthatmake Troubadours special.

Kris Wartelle

PHOTOSByKRIS WARTELLE

Merilyn Crain, Carolyn Broussard, Emily Broussard, and Jamie Owen Parkerson

Lauren Wood, Estelle Matt and Juliet Cieslak

Ella Costello, the Rev. Andre Schumacher and Lauren Quoyeser

Nella Morvant and Margaret Morvant

Jenee, Mark, Carolyn and Linda Broussard

Heather Cox and StaceyMatt

Maria Vilanzeff and Alice Pecoraro

BethDyson,Anne Costello and Josette Smalling

Emily Broussard, Emily Davis and Emily Castille

Margaret Ruffin, Isabella Pecoraro and Coleen Barczyk

PHOTOSByKRIS WARTELLE Katherine Movassaghi and King Richard EricMovassaghi

Margaret Andrus, Estelle Matt, Amelia Adams and Lauren Wood Carter Smith and Colin Kennedy SophiaCooper and Caroline Kuon

Amy and Christopher Lee

Camille Lagasse and MatthewBroussard

Kellie Searcy and Mamie Searcy

Chad Deshotels, Margaret and JayRuffin, Cassie Deshotels and RobertGardes

Karen Bernard and Judy Corne

Emily Smith and Joseph Piccione

Carrieand RobertFoard

Sharon Moss and RobertGardes

TRAVEL

Greenlanddraws attentionand adventuroustravelers

BY MILLIE BALL Contributing writer

Rarely has adestination received so much free publicity as Greenland. With the globalattention it has garnered, now might be agood time to button up your overcoat and plan atrip to check out its glaciers, fjords, bays and colorful little towns.

I’ve been to Greenland twice, ﬁrst in 2018 and againinAugust 2025. My trips have offeredthe chance to see multiple views of the world’slargest island

On the ﬁrst trip, partofa 21-day cruise from Denmark to New York, three little girls rushedupto welcome my husband, Keith, and me to Qaqortoq (Kah-Kor-took), population 3,055. It’sthe largest town in southern Greenland The girls hugged each otherand beamed as Itook their photo

Not far away,inGreenland’s southernmost island town ofNanortalik, achoir in asmall church invited us to aconcert. Theysang “Amazing Grace,” “NearerMy GodtoThee” and other hymns in Greenlandic. Some of us hummed along with the singerswho livein this town with 1,072 residents. Greenland is often confused with Iceland. An autonomous territory of Denmark with its own prime minister,Greenland is 21 times larger than Iceland, three times the size of Texas, and 80% covered with ice. The totalpopulation is 57,000. Iceland’spopulation is almost 400,000, and is about the size of Colorado. Only 11%iscovered with ice. The island countries are 185 miles apart at their closest point. Numerous stories say early Norse settlers wanted to appealtoothers by naming the immense icyisland Greenland, an early marketing ploy. Others say Greenland had some warmer times. Nobody really knows. Adventuroustravelers mainly come for the scenery My second trip to Greenland was totally different from the ﬁrst because of asmaller ship and a different itinerary

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

Most Greenlanders call their country Kalaallit Nunaat (kahLAH-ﬂeet noo NAAT) “Land of the People.”

On our 2018 trip,the Zuiderdam glidedpaststark, stunning fjords and sounds, evenicebergs, but stoppedonly in two places where people lived— not big towns, but still home.Our ship’scapacity was about 2,800, with passengers and crew. We were afriendly invasion. Clusters of cottages in small towns or sometimesscattered ones in smallerplaces all seemed to be paintedblue, red, green, orangeorpurple, trimmed in white. In Qaqortoqthere apparently are enough shopperstosustainwhat we calleda mini-Costco.

Nanortalik (Nan-our-talik) has a more ruggedlook after centuries of stormyweather on its island, and the need for asenseofbalance when walkingoverstones and hills. The colorfulhouses aren’t quite as bright, but locals were gladtosee us eightyears ago.

Roads typically don’tconnect towns in Greenland. Even the capitalcity of Nuuk (Nuke) was not reachable by road. An airportﬁnally opened lastyear,and United now offers twice-weeklyﬂights from Newark to Nuuk in summer

Our 2025 cruisewas aboardthe World Voyager,a“purpose-built yacht” by Atlas Ocean Voyages. Fewer than200 passengers sail on their expedition cruises, where experiences arethe main lure. Experiences include free rides in aZodiac boat to the middle of afjord in Greenland, thenhiking around it

Unfortunately, Ihave healthissues, so hiking in afjord and walking tours weren’tonmylist.

But World Voyager maybemy favoritebig “yacht.”

We boarded in Reykjavik, Iceland, spending our ﬁrst night in an airporthotel after checking out the exorbitant prices of those downtown. We felt right at home aboardthe Voyager as soon as we

recovered fromthe $175 taxi fare from our airport hotel. Another guest said they were charged $345. Ask. Everything is expensive in both Iceland and Greenland. But aboard the World Voyager almosteverything is included, even wine at dinner and daily ridesinZodiacs for those who want to do that. When the water was calm, the captain welcomed passengers to an open bridge. We watchedicebergs from our balcony and the pleasant top-ﬂoor dome, with asemi-circular wall of windows and deck.

With superb room crew and food servers, we could eat wherever we wanted each day in the dining room. Most fellowpassengers werewell-traveled, but instead of bragging about their trips to Antarctica (most we met hadbeen), there was pleasure in exchanging impressions.

There were lectures and entertainment, often by cruise director Greg Scott Jones, who grewupin New Orleans.

Those of us who didn’ttake a Zodiac into Eternity Fjord found a spotondeck to admire its glacier ﬂoating icebergs and steep basalt peaks. After fjord hikers returned, Ithink everyone aboard leaned over balconiestocheer fellow passengers doing Arctic polar plunges —jumping or diving into the icy water.Brrrrr!

One cloudy morning, Keith opened the sliding glass door to our balcony and said, “It’skind of warmoutside. For Greenland.” It

was 45.

We missedafew scheduled stops because of weather and other conditions. Basically,the only tours we saw offered for a fee were walking tours of atown or afood-oriented “Taste of Greenland.” Iwould happily have paid for abus tour of the capital city of Nuuk. We left the ship in the Zodiacs only twice, in the capital city of Nuuk and to disembark. There was afree bus to downtown, and we walked to amultistory building that sold gifts and coffee. Midway,wesaw three people with adisplay of something. “What are you selling?” Iasked the woman. “Oh, nothing,” she said in English. “We’re giving out Bible verses.” Ispotted the word Jehovah on the brochure. “Jehovah’s Witness?” Iasked. She smiled and said, “Yes.”

After breakfast on our last day, Iwobbled onto aZodiac, holding outstretched hands. We all boarded buses for atundra safari tour of massive stone formations and centuries-old native ﬂora above the Arctic Circle. The airport at Kangerlussuaq shares arunway with aformer U.S. Air Force base. Even as the world pays more attention to Greenland, it still feels profoundly untouched.

Millie Ball was travel editor of The Times-Picayune. The Atlas cruise of Greenland starts in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Aug. 20, 2026. Brochure prices start at $8,200 per person.

Turnsout booking‘Flexi’ ferrytickets arenot so flexible

Christopher Elliott

Imade aferry booking with Brittany Ferries in Januaryfor an August sailingfrom Plymouth to Santander,Spain. I’m 79,and unfortunately,health issues developed with my kidney disease. Irealized Ineeded to changemytravel plans. If my condition worsened while in Spain, Iwouldn’tbeable to returntothe U.K. quickly because ferries are limited and it’sa24-hour journey Icanceled my booking with three months’ notice.As soon as Icompleted the online cancellation, the website said there waszero refund. It wasn’tclear that cancellation meant losingmy $390 deposit.When I contacted customer service to explain my situation, theytoldme the cancellation was final —norefund and no ability to changetoadifferentroute.

Ihad a“flexi” ticket and believed Iwould

be able to cancel withoutpenalty.The website didn’twarnmeabout losingmydeposit beforeIclicked the final cancellationbutton. Can you help me getmymoney back? —MikeMarsden, Porthleven, Cornwall, United Kingdom Youshouldn’thave lost your entiredeposit. And Brittany Ferries’ response to your situation shows a troubling lack of customer service. Let’sstart with what should have happened. Youpurchased a“flexi” ticket, whichbydefinition should offer more flexibility than astandard fare. Thewhole point of paying extrafor aflexible ticket is to have options when circumstances change. Most ferry companies and airlines offer flexible fares specifically to enable passengers to make changes or cancel with reduced or no penalties. The biggerissue here is Brit-

tany Ferries’ websitedesign. Any booking system thatdoesn’tclearly warn customers about significant financial penalties before they completeatransaction is fundamentally flawed. Youshould have received aclear warning such as, “You will forfeit your deposit if you proceed with this cancellation” before you clicked thatfinal button. Your health situation makes this even more unreasonable. You’re dealing with kidney disease at age 79, and you made asensible decision to change your travel plans based on legitimatemedical concerns. Aresponsible company would have shown some flexibility, especially given the threemonths of advance notice. Under U.K. consumer protectionlaws, businesses must provide clear and transparent information

about cancellation policies. The Consumer Rights Act requires thattermsand conditions be “fair” and “transparent.” Asurprise forfeiture of your depositwithout adequatewarninglikely violated this standard. Youcouldhave escalated this directly to BrittanyFerries’ senior management. Ipublishexecutive contact information forcompanies like Brittany Ferries on my website. Icontacted BrittanyFerries on your behalf, pointing outthat you had a“ﬂexi” ticket andthatthe company’shandlingofyourcase seemed unreasonable. We also noted thatthe company’s website failed to provide adequate warning about the depositforfeiture.

Brittany Ferries reviewedyour case and issued afull refund of your deposit “on agoodwill basis.”

While thecompany maintained that itsofficialpolicywas correct, it recognized that your situation warranted an exception Your case highlights an importantlesson fortravelers: Always read thefine print on flexiblefares. Some flexible tickets onlyallow date changes, notroute changes or full refunds.Ifyou’re booking aticketspecifically because you might need to cancel,double-check to confirmexactlywhatyourflexibilityincludes. For future trips,considertravel insurance that covers tripcancellation formedical reasons.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonproﬁt organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

AZodiac boat departs from acruise ship off the coast of Greenland.

Homes hug the stonyhillside in Greenland.

Her process begins with conversations with each krewe to discuss themes, colors and expectations before a single stitch is sewn. Designs are then sketched, fabrics selected and hours of detailed work follow

“This is time-consuming,” Perry said. “People don’t always realize that A lot of people think, ‘Oh, I could do that,’ but it’s not as easy as it looks.”

Each custom outfit typically takes from three days to several months to complete, depending on complexity. Prices generally range from $1,000 to $2,000 per piece, though more elaborate designs cost more based on labor, materials and scale.

“I’ve made a $25,000 dress before,” Perry said. “That was a one-time thing, and it took a long time. Usually, most pieces fall in that $1,000 to $1,500 range.”

Inside Perry’s home workshop, racks of princess gowns line the walls alongside styled wigs, theatrical props and a sewing machine that is rarely idle.

In addition to Mardi Gras court attire, Perry operates Princesses of Acadiana, creates stage props, designs dance recital costumes and produces custom pieces for themed events and children’s parties. During Carnival season, however, her focus returns to the court.

Perry’s journey into Mardi Gras design began decades ago when her children served as king and queen for the Krewe of Augustus She made her ﬁrst ball gown to save money

“I always loved sewing, and I always loved creating,” she said. “And at the time, it was expensive. I knew I could do it myself.” Word spread, and over the next 30 years Perry designed for krewes across Louisiana, including a long-standing relationship with the Town Club in Crowley Expectations vary by krewe, she said.

“Some krewes know exactly what they want. Others tell me the theme and trust me to take it from there.”

Court costumes can also be physically demanding. Some historical designs — including those worn by the Krewe of Rio weighed more than 50 pounds.

Most three-piece court costumes use velvet, satin and beaded fabrics, with weight depending on materials and construction.

“Velvet looks very luxurious, and it’s expensive,” Perry said.

AT RANDOM

Continued from page 1D

most the spectacle of this little bird having breakfast, or the time I’d passed with a friend as we shared sentry duty the day before.

When I started birdwatching more than three decades ago, I thought of waiting as the price I had to pay for the chance to spot something beautiful. With age, I’m learning that the wait itself can be its own gift, a kind of sanctuary in which my life finds its center I thought about all of this again a couple of days after Christmas last year, when the season’s first goldfinch arrived at my window feeder Goldfinches normally show up in my south Louisiana yard around Yuletide, a holiday meant to underline the value of waiting. Advent, the church season before Christmas, is grounded in the idea that anticipation can deepen our sense of what’s truly important. In practice, the holidays don’t often bring the kind of pause that honest waiting is supposed to cultivate. Instead, December’s calendar fills with parties and shopping, a blur of busyness in which seasonal serenity tends to get lost.

We’re now at the doorstep of Mardi Gras, when our goldﬁnches usually begin to leave for the year

I’m trying to enjoy their daily visits to the tube feeder just beyond our living room, and I’ve loved watching them ﬂock on our lawn to savor the seed I’ve scattered in the grass. I sometimes startle them at the window, and they rise and fall like a yellow wave lapping at the edge of the porch.

Once the goldﬁnches leave, I’ll have to wait many months for their return. Maybe the years are trying to tell me that waiting can be its own reward.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com

“I like being behind the scenes. For me, it’s not about recognition. It’s about keeping the tradition alive and creating something people remember.”

CONNIE PERRy

“The beaded material gives it that weight and royal feel.”

Because of the extensive labor involved and her recent role as deputy director of Thriller Fest, Mardi Gras court attire is no longer her primary focus.

“I like being behind the scenes,” she said.

“For me, it’s not about recognition. It’s about keeping the tradition alive and creating something people remember.”

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

great fanfare on Feb. 21, 1950, by train after vacationing in Mexico City

They were wined and dined at Antoine’s, received the keys to the city from Mayor deLesseps “Chep” Morrison and watched the Rex procession along St. Charles Avenue from the Boston Club Balcony

But it was what happened after the parade that made Mardi Gras history

“Is it true that King Edward, who abdicated the throne of England, came to Mardi Gras in New Orleans with his wife Wallis Warﬁeld Simpson — and the two of them bowed to Mardi Gras royalty?” one reader asked.

In short, they did. Hierarchy was inverted. Social codes blurred, and the Old World met New Orleans.

The historic moment still exists — frozen in wax at The Great River Road Museum, next to Houmas House in Darrow Its displays include the wax ﬁgures that once belonged to New Orleans’ former Musée Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016.

The Great River Road Museum purchased and restored the ﬁgures, including likenesses of the Windsors.

The ﬁgures, dressed in reproductions of the Mardi Gras ball outﬁts worn by the British royalty stand before a costume worn by a previous Rex, the king of Carnival.

A photo behind the ﬁgures shows the duchess in a graceful curtsy while holding the hand of the duke as he bows.

The 1950 Rex was local businessman Reuben H. Brown; his queen, Mary Brooks Soulé, was a debutante.

But as the king and queen of Carnival, they were New Orleans royalty meaning they didn’t bow to anyone — including the former king of England and his wife.

The moment repeated itself that evening when the Windsors also bowed to Mystick Krewe of

Comus royalty

Graciously welcomed Meanwhile, Times-Picayune reporter Pondine Schoenberger recounted in her Feb. 22, 1950, front-page story how royalty from both the Rex Organization and the Mistick Krewe of Comus graciously welcomed the Windsors. “Real royalty shared the spotlight with make-believe royalty in New Orleans Tuesday, and it was anyone’s guess who caused the most excitement,” Schoenberger wrote. “The Duke and Duchess stood on the balcony of

the Boston Club while Rex, king of the Carnival, toasted his fair queen and her court.” Schoenberger’s story followed the duke and duchess through an itinerary that included talking to reporters and meeting New Orleanians, a luncheon and a meeting with the king and queen of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, who, according to their tradition, weren’t publicly named. They also got into the spirit of Mardi Gras.

“What His Royal Highness seemed to enjoy most about the parade were the bands, particularly the little blonde drum

majors,” Schoenberger wrote

“He and the duchess also seemed to get a big kick out of reaching for necklaces and other baubles thrown from the ﬂoats. They would grab them eagerly then toss them back to the crowd.”

The day’s festivities ﬁnally wound down with an escort into the Rex Ball in the Municipal Auditorium.

“Following the grand march, the Windsors were led up to the royal throne, which dominated the stage,” Schoenberger wrote “Here, they were formally presented to the King and Queen of Comus, who were standing at the time. The duchess went into a graceful curtsy and the duke bowed from the waist.”

Cheers exploded from the crowd, while the Comus royalty reciprocated with their own bows. Yes, according to the article, Comus royalty bowed. Then came the presentation to the Rex court.

“Again curtsy and bow were the occasion for prolonged applause from the spectators,” Schoenberger wrote

However, Schoenberger mentions no bows by Rex royalty

Finally, Arthur Hardy, perhaps the foremost authority on Mardi Gras, cited an account of the event by authors Charles Dufour and Leonard Huber in the ﬁrst ofﬁcial history of the Rex organization, “If Ever I Cease to Love” in a Feb. 15, 2017, article for The Times-Picayune:

“When the captain of the Comus organization presented the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, they looked anything but apathetic. The Duchess hit the ﬂoor with two of the most beautiful and graceful curtsies ever seen, and the Duke bowed from the waist, almost touching the ﬂoor with his forehead. Comus’ 2,500 guests were in ecstasy They responded with deafening applause.”

More than 75 years later, the royal encounters still stand among the most remarkable moments in the city’s Carnival history

Email Robin Miller at romiller@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE

Connie Perry sits at her sewing machine recently at her home in Lafayette.

Connie Perry lays out pieces of a train

FILE PHOTO By NORMAN J BERTEAUX

The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, curtsies while holding the hand of her husband, the Duke of Windsor, former King Edward, as he bows to the royalty of Rex in 1950.

LOUISIANABAKES

Bringnostalgiabackwiththese retrorecipes

Angelfoodcake, banana pudding canhelp bringbackfocus into life

There is asaying that what is old is new again, and the latestobsession totake hold on social mediaisproving the adagetrue.

Olivia Regard

The tactile and analog activitiesofthe past are having arenaissance …and it’s not just about nostalgia. Amid thealgorithmsand constant digital stimulation, a quiet revolution is happening —people are turning to “oldfashioned”hobbies again Analog hobbies, or “granny hobbies” as they have affectionately beennicknamed, include activities such as baking, canning,knitting,gardening or needlepointing. Retro writing styles and instruments like typewriters, calligraphyand waxseals are having aresurgence as well. More than quaint throwbacks, these activities offera way to decompress by ﬂexing creative muscles and grounding us in rhythmand sensory detail, something our minds craveafterbeing overstimulated by digital noise.

The grounding effect is more than metaphorical. Instead, slow,repetitive movements shiftthe body’sstress response,calm the nervous system, boost focus and give your brain something to do thatdoesnot involvedoomscrolling. So,whenyou knit, garden or knead dough, you aredoing more than just passing the time; yourbody interprets thatrhythm and focus as safety,which results in adrop in cortisol, aslower heart rate and deeper breathing

This month, we areleaning intothe analog trend and baking some of my favorite nostalgic recipes from scratch (savefor the pudding mix) —angel food cake and banana pudding. If youfollowalongonInstagram(@ Louisiana_Bakes), Ihave posted my favorite recipe for lemon curd, which is adelicious accompaniment to the angel food cakeand a greatway to use the leftover eggyolks that result from the recipe.

The banana pudding recipe is anod to a ﬁxture in my childhood —vanilla wafers and adessert that appeared oftenatfamily gatherings. With these dishes and any others you create, may the sifting,foldingand whisking give your nervous system permission to downshiftand reclaim stillness in a noisy world.

AngelFood Cake Serves 8-10.

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. 2. Siftcake ﬂour and 2⁄3 cup of sugar 2to3 times.

3. Using thewhiskattachmentofastand mixer,beat egg whites until frothy.Add the salt and cream of tartar.Beat until theegg whites hold soft peaks. Add the remaining 1 cupofsugar,1tablespoon at atime, beating continuously until theegg whites areglossy andhold stiff peaks. Add thevanilla and beat to incorporate.

4. Using arubber spatula, carefully fold the ﬂour and sugar mixtureinthree portionssoas

not to deﬂatethe egg whitestoo much.

5. Spoon thebatter into an ungreased tube (angel food cake) pan and smooth the batter. Rap thepan on the countertwo to threetimes to burst any air bubbles.

6. Bakeuntil cake is golden and springy on top andaskewer inserted into the centerofthe cake comes out clean (approximately 1hour20 minutes).

7. Invert the cake on the counterusing the feet of thecake pan, if present; or invert it over the top of along-neck bottle and let cool for 2hours.

Banana Pudding

Serves 15. Recipe is by Magnolia Bakery

1(14-ounce)can sweetened condensed milk

11/2 cups ice cold water

1(3.4-ounce)box instant vanilla pudding mix

3cups heavycream

4-5 ripe bananas, sliced 1(12-ounce)box vanilla wafercookies(reserve 4-5 cookies forgarnish)

1. In alarge mixing bowl or the bowlofa stand mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until wellcombined.

2. Add the instant vanilla pudding mixand beat welluntil mixture is smooth.

3. Cover and

PHOTO By OLIVIA REGARD Banana Pudding

Carnival books bring the festivities to wider audience

BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer

“Beasts

Conﬁned to our own Carnival bubble that is Mardi Gras, it’s often easy to forget that, in scattered places throughout the globe, people are ramping up their own public and private bacchanals as the Lenten season inches closer But a pair of recent debut novels brings international Carnival ﬂavors to a wider audience.

Rosália Rodrigo’s “Beasts of Carnaval” transports readers to the island of Etérea, a composite of several Caribbean locales, including the author’s native Puerto Rico. Set during the post-emancipation years of the late 19th century, the island is still controlled by a handful of colonial sugar cane plantations.

On one lives Sofía, “a child born to die for a master’s harvest,” who is now the 20-year-old friend and counselor to Adelina, who has managed her father’s sugar holdings since his disappearance ﬁve years ago. He and his personal assistant, Sofía’s twin brother, Sol, were never heard from again after boarding a ship to partake in the Carnival pageantry on nearby Isla Bestia, “a place where you could be anyone. Do anything Excess and secrecy were the only price of participation.”

Sofía and Adelina agree to go full detective mode to track down their missing loved ones and head for Isla Bestia. There they join an elite group of guests, don masquerade disguises, check into rooms at the luxe Flor de Lis hotel and cautiously dip into the island’s “sumptuous feasts, the bottomless wine, the celebrations that ran from sundown to sunrise.”

Isla Bestia’s “Carnaval was not a static experience,” Rodrigo writes. “It was constantly evolving, teasing revelers with a steady stream of mystery.” But the festivities that appear in these early pages mostly fall ﬂat There are aerialists and ﬁre-breathers, secret mirrored labyrinths and creepy minions in horned grinning masks. It’s more circus sideshow, sexless

and banal, only a faint glimmer of the Carnivals that take place from Rio de Janeiro to Jacmel, Trinidad to Tobago and, of course, in New Orleans. From there, the novel dips even further into the fantasy-adventure genre.

While all the other guests sleep off a three-day, poisoned wine-induced coma, Sofía escapes down a series of underground rivers to an isolated, utopian community inhabited by the descendants of the Taike’ri.

They Rodrigo writes in an afterword, are stand-ins for the indigenous Taino peoples, who inhabited many Caribbean islands at the time of European contact.

The Taike’ri design the costumes for Bestia’s crowd in order, Soﬁa eventually learns, to dismantle the elites’ stranglehold on the island.

The novel’s ﬁnal showdown, according to Rodrigo, takes a historical cue from the Canboulay, or Cannes Brûlées in French, a proto-Carnival festival from Trinidad and Tobago that commemorates emancipation through the ritual burning of sugar cane.

That may be so, but the climax is fantastical, melodramatic and absurd — much like our own Mardi Gras celebrations.

From Etérea we travel to Ecuador rendered in darkly realistic tones in Yuliana Ortiz Ruano’s “Carnaval Fever.” The novel is narrated by Ainhoa, a young woman who lives with her rollicking AfroEcuadorian family in present-day Esmeraldas, a small but bustling coastal city

Ainhoa begins her story with a memory of her ﬁrst steps — not walking but dancing — on the day before Mardi Gras. She is 8 years old, with freshly braided hair for the holiday Anxious with carnivalesque energy, she succumbs to the hard percussive beat of a Colombian hit record; she starts salsa dancing. As her father looks on in delight, her mother looks on in dread.

own body undergoes changes she can only compare to a fever

“I don’t understand what the hell is happening in those bodies, in the neighbors out on the streets, the beach, and the city,” Ortiz Ruano writes. “Just like I don’t understand what the hell is happening in my cussed little body, heating and reheating; my body inﬂating and trembling.”

Terriﬁcally translated from the Spanish by Madeleine Arenivar, “Carnaval Fever” gives readers a taste of the Ecuadorian street scene, where strangers toss liquids on each other, most often buckets of water but also “beer, seawater, water mixed with egg, violently inﬂated colorful water balloons.”

This playful pastime is also imbued with a sexual energy, Ainhoa notices, with “people soaking each other up in the houses, on the sidewalks, in all the parlors and bedrooms.”

After being sexually assaulted by a cousin, Ainhoa flees her home and gets lost amid streets packed with merrymakers. She’s overcome by a sensory overload — “raving insanity, unending debauchery a faucet of partying that can’t be closed, that gushes forth, overflowing the container” — and imagines herself “lost forever, living in this overflowing, unending Carnaval for the rest of my life.”

Here, “Carnaval Fever” shares some synergistic vibes with “The Secret Agent,” Brazil’s recent darling of the art house cinema circuit and recipient of four Academy Award nominations. Both stories showcase the violent underbelly that exists in Carnival’s shadows.

Ainhoa eventually ﬁnds her way home, but watches as Carnival’s spirit survives despite the advent of Lent, in the form of “a mob of people taking to the streets, the only pressure valve there is.”

They rally to protest everything that is wrong with their country: escalating violence, economic and political instability They gather to walk across the Guatemalan border together, to pack motorboats “like sardines, disappearing forever across the dull gray sea in the direction of the United States.”

The season’s gender dynamic foregrounds Ainhoa’s narrative. She learns that her parents met on a dance ﬂoor

“To be alive thanks to the novelty of Carnaval,” she admits, “makes me crazy.” Over subsequent years, more family members succumb to the season’s uninhibited sexual fervor, while her

A short book, Ortiz Ruano’s novel is both exhilarating and exhausting — just enough to make this reader happy that Carnival comes around only once a year

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

EyES ON THE PRIZE

Readers celebrated for diving

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Reading is often considered a solitary activity, but in Lafayette, people have several options for sharing their love of books in a supportive community There’s a local Silent Book Club chapter for those who enjoy no-frills communal reading, and Lafayette book businesses like Cavalier House Books, Book Rack of Acadiana and Bonne Vie Macarons and Book Club & Co. all regularly host themed book clubs. Bonne Vie has five different book clubs for mysteries, cookbooks, romance books, nonfiction and books that have been made into movies — all with a waiting list of eager readers. If you’re an especially prolific reader, there’s another option that might be just the challenge you’re looking for The Lafayette public library system is home to the “100 Book Club,” where members have one goal: reading or listening to 100 books through the year, with a medal and certificate of completion awarded at the end.

On Feb. 9, participants gathered at South Regional Library for a ceremony honoring their achievements last year. Names were read and cake was sliced as the all-ages group mingled and shared their love of reading. In order to complete the challenge, they had to read over eight books per month, or nearly two a week — a brisk pace in a screen-dominated society Heather and P.J. Best run Lafayette’s Silent Book Club chapter, and on Monday, the whole family was inducted into the 100 Book Club — mom, dad and two sons, 7-year-old Eli and 8-year-old Ethan. Ethan’s favorite read last year was “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” and Eli’s was a graphic novel titled, “Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder,” from author Dav Pilkey

When asked how they center reading in their household, Heather Best had a simple answer: “We very rarely watch TV.”

“It’s very important to us to raise readers,” she said. “In order to prioritize something, you have to say no to something else.”

According to library out-

reach services manager Emma Guillory, the program has been very successful since its launch in 2013, and hundreds of people participate each year

“They just love it,” she said. “One of our participants said, ‘It’s not hard to do what I love.’ They just love that they can be celebrated for reading, but also it’s being part of something that you work all year for, and it comes to fruition at the end with prizes.”

For every kind of reader, it’s clear that reading as part of a community made the experience something worth their time and dedication, particularly in an age where taking time for an immersive, solo hobby is something almost luxurious.

Brittney Boutte was supported by her family when she received her certiﬁcate, and as a working mom, she said she makes time for her reading by leaning on audiobooks — and the community aspect of the program is a “nice push to do it,” she said. Another participant, Shalala Thompson, said that pursuing the goal made her a better reader

Readers can join the 100 Book Club challenge for 2026 by visiting any Lafayette Public Library branch to register and receive a personal reading log. All participants, ages 6 and up, have to read or listen to the books themselves, and picture books are permitted for elementary school-aged readers. Magazines and comic books don’t count, but graphic novels, eBooks and audiobooks do.

Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@theadvocate. com.

left, and Ethan Best, right, show their certificates for reading 100 books, along with their parents Patrick and Heather back.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Readers who read 100 books or more arrive during the Lafayette Public Library’s 100 Book Club annual celebration at the South Regional Library in Lafayette.

of Carnaval” by Rosália Rodrigo, Mira Books, 400 pages, and “Carnaval Fever” by Yuliana Ortiz Ruano, Soft Skull Press, 256 pages.

lafayettela.gov and DabneDover at (337) 2918262 or dabnedover@ lafayettela.gov Each bidshall be accom‐panied by acertiﬁed check, cashier’scheck or bidbondpayable to theLafayette Consoli‐

List of jurors randomly drawn and to serve for the term beginning on February23, 2026:

ALDERMAN, SARAHDOMINGUE

ALEX, KAYLA SHAWNTEL

ALLEMAN, BERNADETTE D ANGELLE, TERRYALENZO

ARCENEAUX, JOSEPH RAYMOND

ARCENEAUX, SARAHLYNN

ARCENEAUX, WILSON L

AWBREY,HEIDI LYNN

BAILEY,JOSHUA MICHAEL BAPTISTE, ONEAL JOSEPH

BARRAS, DEIDRA HEBERT

BARTHE, ELLA PAIGE

BATISTE, JENNIFER BROUSSARD

BEEMER, MILDRED BEN, LATOYASHANAE

BENOIT,KATHARINE LEMAIRE

BERGERON, MICHAEL P

BERNARD, CAPRE DASHON BLACKWELL, ALFRED JAMES

BOAGNI,ANDREW PAUL

BOUDREAUX, KIERA HERSHEL ALMEDIA BOURQUE, RHONDA VIATOR BREAUX, LONNIE J BREAUX, LORI GAIL BREAUX, CINDY F BROUSSARD, AARON MICHAEL BROUSSARD, JARVOSKI DOMON BROWN, STUART CARRIER, CHARLES CARRIER, KIMBERLYH CARRIERE, DAVID CHAD CAUSEY,JUANICIA DENISE

CHACHERE, CARMEN VICTORIA

CHARPENTIER, BARRYJ CLARK, STUARTG

COMEAUX, EMILIECATHERINE

CORMIER, DANIELLE MONIQUE

CORMIER, JASON WILLIAM COUSSAN, CHERI CUDGES,PETE KEIFER

DABELLA, ANDREW HENRY

DAIGLE, JANICE G DAIGLE, DORITABRUNO DAIGLE, JERRYMIE V DALEY,GREGORY DAVIS, JEFFREY D DAVIS, SHANE TYRONE

DEGRAFFENARIED, LATONYAJANAY

DEKERLEGAND, TYLER DAVID DELGADO, MIGUEL A DEROUEN, JEFFREY MICHAEL DHANANI, RAJAN GORDHANBHAI DIXON, LATONYAA DOSS, KHALIL

DUGAS, JENNIFER CAMEL

DUPUIS, BRIANNA FAYE

DUPUIS, JENA RICHARD

EDGE, WHITNEY JOEL

EDWARDS, KENNETH RAY

EDWARDS, LARRY

EDWARDS-MORRIS, JAWAND MICHELLE ELLENDER, JOLIE MARIE

FERNEY,MICHAEL R FORD, JOLIE MICHELLE FORD, AMANDA GANDARA-PERILLO, NOEMI

GARCIA, TAMMY B GARROT,CORINNE RENEE

GARY, NICHOLASANDREW

GASPARD, ERICA LEN

GASPARD, LAKEISHA JANELLE

GIDDINGS, SHAWNA LEE

GILGER, MARYSLOCUM

GORDON, HEATHER MARIE

GOTCH, LAKEISHA RENEE

GOTREAUX, NATHANAEL JOHN

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐callyathttps://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in theof‐fice of thePurchasingDi‐vision at theLafayette Consolidated Govern‐ment Building,located at 705 West University Av‐enue,Lafayette Louisiana, until 3:00 p.m. CentralTimeonthe 20th dayofMarch,2026 for thefollowing: 167118.5.2762 FUEL GAS CONDITIONING EQUIP‐MENT andwill, shortlythere‐after,beopenedand read aloudinthe Council Briefing Room locatedat 705 West University Av‐enue,Lafayette,LA. Bids received after theabove specified time foropen‐ingshall notbeconsid‐ered andshall be re‐turned unopened to the sender.Bidders areen‐

GROSS, ROBERT

fieldservicesatthe Job Site AllWorkshall be completedbetween Feb‐ruary1,2027, andJuly1 2028. In accordance with LouisianaRS38:2212 electronic Bids maybe submittedatVendorAc‐cess (https://lafayettecs dgovla.tylerportico.com/ va/vendor-access/ registration).Official Bid Documentsare available at Vendor Access (https://lafayettecsdgov la.tylerportico.com/va/ vendor-access/ registration). Forques‐tionsrelated to theelec‐tronic biddingprocess, please call theOffice of Purchasing at 337-2918258. Biddersmay re‐questthe electronic bid packagefromMorgan Broussardatmcbrous‐sard@lafayettela gov d b b

GUIDRY,KINSLEYMALONE

GUIDRY,JERRETT JUDE

GUILBEAU, KARL G GUILLORY,DANIELKEITH GUNNER, SAMARA GABRIELLE

GUSSMAN,DAVID H

HADDADIN, KHALED S HAMPTON,ANGELA LATRICE

HAMPTON,ANNA KATE

HARPER, EARL A HARRINGTON, ERINRENEE

HARRIS, MONIQUE KESHON

HERNANDEZ, BLANCHE Z HEUMANN,ERICEDWARD

HICKEY,JANAM

HIGDON, MICHAEL STEVEN

HODGES, JOE ALLEN

HUDSON,WILLIAMHOWARD HUNTER, CAFEY F HYMEL, CHRISTINE MARIE

JANKOWER, MELANIE MICHELLE JEYUSI, MAZEN K JOHNSON,STEVEN C JOHNSTONE, GERRYB JONES, RANDY CLIFTON

JONES, CHIARA DIONNE

JONES, ALISHALYNN

KANG,MINA OH KARNS, TEGAN LAFOSSE, CHALYNDAWN

LAJAUNIE, MARISSA LEIGH

LANDRY, CATHERINE MARIE

LANDRY, PRESTON CHARLES

LANDRY, EDITH S LANE, JAYHAROLD

LAVERGNE,DANIELJAMES LAVERGNE,JEAN LOUIS LE, NGUYEN XUAN HAI

LEBLANC, SARAH VOORHIES

LEBLANC, DAWN ELIZABETH

LEBLANC, KATIE MARIE

LEDOUX, LESTER JOSHUACRANE

LEE, CAROLYN SMITH

LEWIS, MARILYNJ

LEWIS, ALCIDE JOSEPH

LOESCH, JULIAN DAVID LOGAN, KIMBERLYE

LORIO, KATE UNG

LOUPE, CLIFFORD JL

LOWDINS, ZEDRICK DEMON

MAI,GINA DUNG

MANZANEROBARRERA, BERENICE

MATHEWS, MELISSA DUPLANTIS

MAXWELL, AMYJANE

MCLAUGHLIN, SUZANNE MARTIN

MEILLEUR, CHRISTOPHER PAUL

MELANCON, SHARIFAHHARDY

MELGARJUAREZ, MARCOT

MENARD, DEREK MICHAEL MENARD, DONALD J

MICHAEL, SEAN PATRICK

MILLER, JOHN ALLAN

MILLER, REBECCA INGRID FERRELL

MIZE, GREGORYW

MONIC, CHRISTINE RCARTER

MOORE, RENEKA CHERISE

MOREAU,LAURA KIMBERLEY WATSON

MORVANT, SARAH ALIVIA

MORVANT, TAMMY HOTARD

MOUTON,JADE LAUREN

MOUTON,EDDIEPAUL MYERS, SUSAN F NGUYEN,DIEMN

NIEWEG, DAVIDCARL

ORDON, KASHAUNDA ANGELICA

OUYANG, SAIYING

PARKER, LILLIAN D PATEL, GAURANGARVINDBHAI

y g and Dabne DoveratDab‐neDover@LafayetteLA gov. Abid bond,certified checkorcashier’s check shallbesubmitted as the bidsecurity. Electronic copies of both thefront andbackofthe checkor bidbondshall be in‐cluded with theelec‐tronic bid. Bidderswishing to sub‐mittheir bidelectroni‐callymust firstberegis‐teredonlinewith Lafayette Consolidated Government as apoten‐tial supplieratthe web‐site listed above. Bidders submitting bids electron‐ically shallinclude all documentsinone (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s)and arere‐quired to provideone (1) hard copy within fortyeight(48) hoursfrom bid openingthrough the mail.Bidders providing bids my mail, shallin‐cludeone (1)hardcopy with alldocuments in one(1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s)and arerequiredtoprovide an electronic copy in one (1)USB flashdrive.Only abid bond,certified checkorcashier’s check shallbesubmitted as the bidsecurity. Electronic copies of both thefront andbackofthe checkor

ments. La.R.S.44:3.2(D) requires Lafayette Consolidated Government to make a determinationasto whether aBidders sub‐missionisinfactpropri‐etaryortrade secret in‐formationwithinthirty (30) calendar days of the Bidder’ssubmission. Bids must be signedin accordance with LRS Title38:2212(B)5. ACor‐porate Resolution or writtenevidenceofau‐thorityauthorizing the person signingthe bidis required to be submitted with bid. Failuretosub‐mita CorporateResolu‐tion or Certiﬁcate of Au‐thoritywiththe bidshall be causefor rejectionof bid. Copies of thebidding documentsare available upon requestbycontact‐ingPurchasing& Prop‐erty Management Divi‐sion,located at 705 West University Avenue Lafayette,Louisiana upon paymentofFifty Dollars($50.00) perset, non-refundable,made payabletothe Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ment.NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTEDONLY CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐DATEDGOVERNMENT. Bid Documentsshall be availableuntil twentyfour hoursbeforethe bid openingdate. Questions relative to thebidding documentsshall be di‐rected to Morgan Brous‐sard by emailat mcbroussard@ lafayettela.gov and DabneDover at dabne‐dover@LafayetteLA.gov Within one(1) week upon receiptofthe Invitation to Bid, Biddersare en‐couraged to conﬁrm in‐tent to submit abid by replying to the"Invita‐tion to Bid" emailsentby Morgan Broussard( mcbroussard@ lafayettela.gov)and DabneDover (dabne‐dover@LafayetteLA.gov ). Bidders arerequested to attend anon-mandatory pre-bidmeeting, which will be held on February 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CST in theEngineeringCon‐ferenceRoom 2atthe LUSOperationsCenter locatedat1314 Walker Rd Lafayette,LA70506. Bidders unable to attend thepre-bid in person can attend by joiningthrough Zoom usingthe following link:https://us02web zoom.us/j/85139174990? pwd=GgdT1L939ME5Gsn lURr69GfUdqpI3R.1. Alter‐natively,a meetinginvite canbeforwarded to you viaemail by contacting Morgan Broussardat (337) 291-8263 or mcbroussard@

PATEL, USHA SURESH PAZ, KEVING A PELTIER, LANCE M PETERS, JOSHUA SETH PFEFFER, LAURIE M PHOUNSAVATH, SYDARA JOHN PICARD,TEDMANJ PICCIONE,JOHN MARIO PLEASANT,CONNOR J PREJEAN, DANNLIA RENA RICHARD, SUSIE CHOPLIN RICHMOND,GRACEMARYANN ROBERTSON, DAMIEN T ROBIN,JOHNNY ROBINSON, NEAL PATRICK ROMERO, JOHNNIE LEE ROY,JANETS RUBIN HOLLIER, CHANDARENEE RUIZ, FRANKLIN GUILLERMO RUSSELL, STEELEALEXANDER SALOPEK, KRISTIN PERRY SAM, KEVIN JAMES SARTIN, ZEB ONEAL SAVOY,DAVID K SCOTT,ROBERTBLAKE SELLERS, JOSEPH FRANK SIMMONS, BRAKAYLON SIMON, MELINDA MANAGAN SLADE, MARK A SMITH, KRISTIANA SHALAE SMITH, ISAIAH TREMAINE SNELL, CALEBJOSHUA SOILEAU, CONNIE SUE SOLOMON, MYNTELLA ROCHELLA SOLOMON, JOLASHA JALANA SONNIER, LOGAN KENT SPAIN, MARGIE LASHANE SPELLER, STEPHANIE MADONNA SPENCE,KIMBERLYDAVIDSON STELLY, JORDAN PAUL STOVALL, WILFRED T STUTES, JESSICA ASMAR TAYLOR, DARLENEF TERRO, NICHOLAS EDWARD THIBODEAUX, KENRY THIBODEAUX, ASHLYN NICOLE THOMAS, JESSE J THORNTON, JAMES WILEY TIBBS, KEVIN D TORO, CHRISTIAN WOODSON TORREGANO, AMIYAMONEA TRAHAN, KEVIN AKEEM TRAHAN, NAKESHA R TRAHAN, MADISON NICOLE TRINH, NHI YEN TROTTER, ELIZABETH P TURNAGE, VIRGINIA DELL VENABLE,HENRY L VENABLE,JOHN TREVOR VERZWYVELT, JOHN MARVIN VIATOR, NICHOLAS PAUL VIDRINE, IDA ALLEMAN VINCENT,JONATHON P WATERMAN, GLENN ANTHONY WESLEY,SHAWANA ALEXANDER L WHITE, PATRICIA ANN WILLIS, SASHA LASHAY WILLIS, RODERICKMANDELL WILSON, MARYM WINGERTER, TROY RAYMOND WOODS, FERNELLIS JERMELL YOUNG, DEANA D YOUNG, KEVIN WAYNE ZENO, LORENAMARY ZONA, NICHOLAS ANDREW

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Feb. 15, the46thday of 2026. Thereare 319 days left inthe year

Todayinhistory:

On Feb. 15, 1898, the battleship USSMaine mysteriously explodedinHavanaHarbor,killing more than 260 crew members and bringingthe United States closer towar with Spain. Also on this date:

In 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes signed alaw allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt escaped an assassination attempt in Miamithat mortally wounded Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak; gunman Giuseppe Zangara was executed by electric chair the following month

In 1950, Walt Disney’sanimatedﬁlm “Cinderella” premiered in Boston

In 1961, 73 people, includingall 18 members of the U.S. ﬁgure skating team en route to the World ChampionshipsinCzechoslovakia, were killed in the crashofa SabenaAirlines Boeing 707 in Belgium.

In 1978, boxerLeon Spinksscored amassive upset as he defeated Muhammad Ali by split decision to become the world heavyweight champion.

In 1989, the Soviet Union announcedthatthe last of its troops had left Afghanistan,after more than nine years of military intervention.

In 2001, the ﬁrst draft sequence of the complete human genome waspublishedinthe scientiﬁc journal Nature.

In 2013, with ablindingﬂash anda booming shockwave, ameteor blazed across Russia’s western Siberian sky andexploded,injuring nearly 1,500 people as it blasted outwindows.

In 2022, the families of ninevictimsofthe Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting agreed to a$73 million settlementofa lawsuit against Remington Arms, themakerofthe riﬂe used by agunman to kill 20 ﬁrst graders and six educators in 2012.

In 2023, Payton Gendron,the White gunman who massacred10Black shoppersand workers at aBuffalo,New York, supermarketin May of the previous year,was sentencedto life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to murder and hate-motivated terrorismcharges.

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Claire Bloom is 95. Songwriter Brian Hollandis85. Jazz musician Henry Threadgillis82. Composer John Adams is 79. Cartoonist Art Spiegelman is 78. Actor Jane Seymour is 75. Singer Melissa Manchester is 75. Actor Lynn Whitﬁeldis73. “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groeningis72. Actor Christopher McDonald is 71.Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green is 66. ActorAlex Borstein is 55. Hockey great Jaromir Jagr is 54. Olympic swimming gold medalist Amy VanDyken-Rouen is 53. Actor-singerAmber Riley is 40. Rapper Megan Thee Stallionis31. Race car driver George Russell is 28. Actor Zachary Gordonis28.

When thebackgroundmusic is tooloud

Dear Miss Manners: Ilive in a large city,and used to enjoy going out to lunch or dinner with friends. However,the loud music combined with the lack of soundabsorbing materials in restaurants have made dining out astressful event. It has become almost impossible to converse in anormal tone of voice.

can we do, other than staying home and getting takeout delivered?

As we age, many of us wear hearing aids.Itisdifﬁcult to distinguishwords in abackground of noise. Many young people alsocomplain about the decibel level. We often ask the waitstaff if thevolume can be lowered, but to no avail. (If we are the only people in the restaurant, the volume might be lowered, but as soon as another party enters, thevolume is pumped up again.)

No wonder people have lost the abilitytoconverse! What

Gentle Reader: Youare more likely to enjoy your evening out if you choosearestaurantbydecibel level, just as you would select atype of cuisine, such as Moroccan or Sichuan.

MissManners suggests that you call ahead and explain that you arelooking for a quiet restaurant. No restaurateurwants an unhappy customer,sothey are unlikely to mislead you, and your call might make them wonder if they should be turning down thevolume.

Dear Miss Manners: Iaman RN, and Ispent mostofmy 30-year career working at a community hospital near my home.

It didn’thave the greatest reputation, but it had some

great doctorsand nurses, and Iwas proud of the work we did. Whenasked, Itellpeople where Iworked, and am often met with, “Oh, Iwould nevergotothathospital” or “I hate thathospital.” (This also happenedwhile Iwas still working there!)

Iamata loss as to howto respond to these rude people

Usually,Ijust ignore the ignorant comment, but sometimes, I’dlike to have a comeback readythatwould make themaware howhurtful andthoughtless theyare Any ideas?

Gentle Reader: Tell themyou are sorry theyhad abad experience— or whatever they arerelating about the hospital. Miss Manners fears that youmay be in foralong story

Thenmentionthatyou worked with some very dedicated professionals, but do notknowthe current situa-

tion. And change the subject. Please, however,noteMiss Manners’ full answer.You askedhow to make them realize theywererude and feel badabout it. She did that —and possibly also gotthem to rethink their opinionofthe hospital. Youneglected to ask how to do this without starting an argument or convincing the questionerthatyou are just as badasthe hospital. Which is whatwould have happened, hadyou contradictedthem without giving themanout, or by glaring at themand letting the conversation grind to ahalt.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www.missmanners. com; to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postalmail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO64106.

Everyone should maintain sparetirepressure

appliance.

Dear Heloise: Iwas feeling curious, so Ichecked theair pressure in thespare tireof an SUV that Ibought four years ago. I had never even looked to see where thespare was stored, which was under aﬂoor panel in the back. Idiscovered that it was functionally ﬂat and would have been absolutely useless in an emergency.Accordingly, Iurge everyone to monitor and maintain every vehicle’s properspare tirepressure.

Jim R., in Houston Roughtowel fix

Dear Heloise: Regarding the inquiry of what to do about rough towels: After our traditional washing machine finally gave out after many years of use, we now live with an insufficient, energy-efficient

Ourlaundry was not gettingclean and was frayed. We discovered that there was not enough water tocover the laundry in the normal cycle, and everything was getting tangled. We were using thesame amount of laundry detergent as we would for afull tubof water

We now have reduced the amount of laundry detergent, use thedeep water rinse, and use thecycle for bulky items and sheets so that every load can get thesufﬁcient amount of water

Also, to note, we have adishwasher that requires handdrying of dishes, an electric clothes dryer that requires two cycles to dry mostloads, and awater-conserving toilet that has to be ﬂushed at least twice. —Sarah, via email Cutonthumb

Dear Heloise: Icut my thumb

right on the top of my knuckle, and Iknew that it would be difﬁcultfor it to heal properly because of all the bending and ﬂexing in this spot during the day After cleaning the cut thoroughly and applying antibiotic medicine and abandage, I wanted to stabilize my thumb so that it wouldn’tkeep reopening.

My ﬁrst thought was to use atongue blade to make asmallsplint, but Ididn’t haveone on hand. Instead, I grabbed what Idid have: an emery board. Asmall, stiffemeryboard worked perfectly to keep my thumbfrom bending too much. Itaped it in place, and it worked like acharm as a makeshift splint while the cut healed —Corrinne Berkland, in Universal City,Texas Zipup!

Dear Heloise: Many people, youngand old, have trouble

zipping up the double-zipper on coats and sweatshirts. This is the zipper that allows room at the bottom of the coat/ sweatshirt forsitting, bending or general comfort. The easiest way to zip this up is to ﬁrmly hold the top zipper and pull downwhen inserting the pin on other side of the zipper Holding it downensures that the twozippers are fully aligned and ready forzipping! —Therese, in Indiana Poweroutagehint

Dear Heloise: Here are afew things to have on hand in case of apower outage: canned foods (along with amanual can opener), matches, and pillar (fat, sturdy) candles. Lay acandle on aﬂat mirror to reﬂect morelight and illuminate the entire room —A reader,via email Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

specified time foropen‐ingshall notbeconsid‐ered andshall be re‐turned unopened to the sender.Sealedproposals must be hand carriedor mailedtothe address listed above. This contract is intended to be used in preparation forand/orinresponseto, emergenciesordisas‐ters.The intent of the warded contract is for vendorstoprovide addi‐tional products,services, andpersonnel resources on an as needed basis fordisasterresponse. It is critical that thesesup‐port operations areup andoperating as soon as possibleoncea need has been identified.Vendor interestedinsubmitting aproposalmustcomply with allterms andcondi‐tionsdescribed in this solicitation andsupport attachments. Proposers shallsubmitone (1) marked original,three (3) exactcopiesmarked copy,and one(1) elec‐tronic copy (USB or CD) of theproposalwhich meetsthe specifictech‐nicalcriteriaset forth herein.Inaddition,pro‐posershall submit one (1)redacted copy of the proposal shallbesubmit‐tedina sealed envelope andshall be clearly marked Redacted Copy bearingthe name of the project, firm submitting theredactedcopyand thedate. Proposals should be sent to 705 West University Avenue Lafayette,LA70506 at‐tentionHeather Kestler. Copies of theRFP specifi‐cationsare available upon requestatthe Pur‐chasingOffice locatedat 705 West University Av‐enue,Lafayette,LA 70506. Telephonenumber (337) 291-8071(Attn: HeatherKestler) hkestler@lafayettela.gov RFPspecificationsshall be availableuntil twentyfour (24) hoursbefore theproposalopening date No Vendor maywithdraw hisproposalfor at least sixty(60) days after the time scheduledfor the openingofproposals Each proposal shallfol‐lowthe instructions listed in theRFP regard‐ingsubmittal of their proposal Proposalswillbeevalu‐ated by thePurchaser basedonthe evaluation criteria outlined in the Requestfor Proposals. TheLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernmentre‐serves theright to reject anyand allproposals or anyportionsthereof,to waiveinformalities and to select thematerial that best suitsits needs. TheLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernment strongly encourages the participationofDBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)inall con‐tracts or procurements letbythe Lafayette Con‐solidatedGovernment forgoodsand services andlabor andmaterial. To that end, allcontrac‐tors andsuppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐prises in thepurchaseor sub-contractingofmate‐rials, supplies, services andlabor andmaterialin which disadvantaged business areavailable Assistance in identifying said businessesmay be obtained by calling2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated

2/15,

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received in theof‐fice of thePurchasingDi‐vision at theLafayette Consolidated Govern‐ment Building,located at 705 West University Av‐enue,Lafayette Louisiana, until 4:15 p.m. CentralTimeonthe 13th dayofMarch,2026 for thefollowing: ELECTRICAL LINECON‐STRUCTION andwill, shortlythere‐after,beopenedand the NAMESONLYreadaloud in theOffice of Purchas‐inglocated at 705 West University Avenue Lafayette,LA. Proposals received after theabove specified time foropen‐ingshall notbeconsid‐ered andshall be re‐turned unopened to the sender.Sealedproposals maybehandcarried or mailedtothe address listed above. Proposers areinvited to attend the openingvirtually by usingthe followinglink https://us02web.zoom us/j/82351962408? pwd=erDrv90Gh4XrsLr 8WyF9Ad0K5nGNJf.1 MeetingID: 823 5196 2408 Passcode:495935

ScopeofServices: The scopeofworkshall con‐sist of,but is notlimited to,providing laborand equipmentnecessary for theinstallationofelectri‐calfacilities on theover‐head portionofthe mu‐nicipalpower system TheContractorthe Con‐tractor’sdesignatedGen‐eral Forman shallhave a minimumof ﬁfteen (15) years’ experience in the construction andmainte‐nanceofenergized over‐head electric distribution linesofatleast 13.8kV andenergized overhead electric transmission linesofa least69kV. DEADLINEFOR QUES‐TIONS: Allquestions re‐gardingthisprojectmust be submittednolater than 4:00 PM on March6 2026 to be considered valid. Allquestions be summittedinwriting to HeatherKestler at hkestler@lafayettela.gov Proposalsshall be either hand deliveredormailed in asealedenvelopeto theaddress listed below. Proposalsreceivedafter theappointedtimewill be determined non-re‐sponsive andwillnot be opened.Sealedpropos‐alsmustbesubmitted in one(1) original hard copy

No Vendor maywithdraw hisproposalfor at least forty-five (45) days after thetimescheduled for theopening of proposals. Each proposal shallfol‐lowthe instructions listed in theRFP regard‐ingsubmittal of their proposal Proposalswillbeevalu‐ated by thePurchaser basedonthe evaluation criteria outlined in the Requestfor Proposals. TheLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernmentre‐serves theright to reject anyand allproposals or anyportionsthereof,to waiveinformalities and to select thematerial that best suitsits needs. Contractorsshall be li‐censed forthe classifica‐tion of “ELECTRICAL WORK (STATEWIDE”and thesubclassification of “ELECTRICALTRANSMIS‐SION LINE” Proposals whichhavenot bidinac‐cordance with there‐quirements,shall be re‐jected andshall notbe read.Additional informa‐tion relative to licensing maybeobtainedfrom theLouisiana StateLi‐censingBoard forCon‐tractors,Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

TheLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernment strongly encourages the participationofDBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)inall con‐tracts or procurements letbythe Lafayette Con‐solidatedGovernment forgoodsand services andlabor andmaterial. To that end, allcontrac‐tors andsuppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐prises in thepurchaseor sub-contractingofmate‐rials, supplies, services andlabor andmaterialin whichdisadvantaged business areavailable Assistanceinidentifying said businessesmay be obtained by calling2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISHDATES:2/11, 2/15, 2/22 DPR# 1003532 176973-FEB11-15-22-3T $127.44

STREET,and the southerlyend of MOSSER DR to apoint thence S11°49’36”W, a distance of approxi‐mately 199.42’,through thepropertyofACADIA DEVELOPMENTLLC,204 GLASSHOUSE STREET andendinginthe cul-desacofGLASS HOUSE STREET whichisalsothe existing corporatelimits to apoint thence N78°10’24”W, a distance of approxi‐mately 184.69’,fromthe cul-de-sac of GLASS HOUSESTREET and throughthe property of ACADIA DEVELOPMENT LLC, 203 GLASSHOUSE STREET whichisalsothe existing corporatelimits to apoint thence N11°28’14”E, a distance of approxi‐mately 20.00’,along the westerly property line of ACADIA DEVELOPMENT LLC, 203 GLASSHOUSE STREET,and theeasterly endofRYDER DRIVEto a point, thence S78°10’24”E, adis‐tanceofapproximately 124.81’,along the northerlypropertylineof ACADIA DEVELOPMENT LLC, 203 GLASSHOUSE

STREET,and the southerlypropertylineof ELDRIDGE CARRIER & CHRISELLABROWN to a point, thence N11°49’36”E, a distance of approxi‐mately 30.00’,along the northwesterlyproperty line of SANCTUARYSUB‐DIVISION IN BROUSSARD, andthe southeasterly property line of EL‐DRIDGE CARRIER & CHRISELLABROWN to a point, thence S78°10’24”E, adis‐tanceofapproximately 30.00’,along the northerlypropertylineof SANCTUARYSUBDIVISION IN BROUSSARD, andthe southerlypropertylineof ELDRIDGE CARRIER & CHRISELLABROWN to a point, thence N11°49’36”E, a distance of approxi‐mately 149.21’,along the westerly property line of ACADIA DEVELOPMENT LLC, 204 GLASSHOUSE STREET,and theeasterly property line of EL‐DRIDGE CARRIER & CHRISELLABROWN to a point, whichisalsothe existing City of Lafayette corpo‐rate limitsand thepoint of beginning,all as h h h d

DATEDGOVERNMENT By /s/Tim Patro TimPatro PlannerII 177546-feb15-1t $35.83 g g shownontheattached

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Hints from Heloise

Stateeyes industrial workforce challenges

Need forskilled labor rising aheadof$98.1B in planned projects

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Louisiana Plastic Industries, aplastic product manufacturing company in West Monroe, is a leading employer in North Louisiana. But it has struggled in recent years to ﬁll open positions and has found it particularly challenging to find workers whowould maintain the company’slarge machinery

“We’ve experienced the same recruitment and retention challenges other employers have experienced as well,” said Deion Hemphill, Louisiana Plastic chiefﬁnancial ofﬁcer.

Louisiana Plastic isn’talone.Companies across the state are feeling the effects of aworkforce shortage that has hampered growth efforts for years and couldintensify,asLouisiana prepares to meet about $98.1 billion in industrial projects. Skilled industrial labor demand is expected to peak at 120,000 by the third quarterof2027, according to datafrom the GreaterBaton RougeIndustry Alliance.

Now,anew partnership between state agencies and organizations is hoping to make recruitment easier for Louisiana businesses.

The Business Workforce Solutions pilot program establishes a framework for the state to address employers’ needs, as Louisiana ramps up to meet the labor needed forindustrial projects andshortages of skilled trades workers. The state’seight economicdevelopment organizations willserve as points of contact for businesses in need of employee recruitment, retainment and training support, reducingthe number of entities employers contact when seeking help with their workforce.

The organizations then work with the initiative’sother partners, Leaders for aBetter Louisiana, Louisiana Economic Development and Louisiana Community College andTechnical System, to find asolution,which could include promotion of certain job opportunities or refurbishingthe state’scertification and trainingofferings. Agoal of the initiative is to prevent employersfrom havingto reach out to all parties individually Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen said state partners tend to overlap in outreach to employers to learn about their challenges in attaining and retaining employees. The initiative’sframework identifies apoint of contact and consistentset of expectations for employers when they consult state partners to help them procure talent, she said.

ä See WORKFORCE, page 2E

STARTER THE GUN

RICH COLLINS Staff writer

The National WWII Museum in downtown NewOrleanshas plenty of historic weapons on display,including pistols, riﬂes and even abazooka or two. In an office building just across Camp Street from the museum’s campus,casual observers would be forgiven for thinking they’d found another stockpile, including whatappear to be several M4 carbine assault riﬂes and a fearsome-looking, tripod-mounted machine gun. But there’ssomething different about this second collection.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK An instructor cuts metal pipe during a class at South Louisiana Community College’sOpelousas campus. The state is trying to address staffing challenges faced by theindustrial sector by making it easier for businesses to recruit employees.

STAFF PHOTOSByENAN CHEDIAK

Luling nativeKyleMonti, left, founded HaptechDefense Systems, a12-year-oldtechmanufacturing companythat has created ‘surrogate’ military weapons designed to act liketheir real-life counterparts —includingrecoiling when fired With Monti is Chief Operating Officer Conrad Rolling at the Haptech headquarters in NewOrleans.

Barrington Herbertdemonstrates audio withavideo game gunatthe Haptech headquarters in NewOrleans.

3IRS issues to watch this taxseason

Every year at the start of tax season, the question is whether the chronically underfunded IRS will be ahot mess or whetherthings will runfairly smoothly

WEAPONS

Michelle Singletary

THE COLOR OF MONEy

This year,the IRS expects about 164 million individual returns to be ﬁled by the April 15 deadline.

Last year,before the Trump administration rolled back some gains, mainly stafﬁng, things were looking better.About 104 million taxpayersreceived refunds, and those checks weren’tsmall, averaging $3,167.

“More recent ﬁling seasons have demonstrated meaningful improvement,” National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins saidinher annual report to Congress.

As for how the current season is looking, Collins is optimistic and concerned.

“For the significant majority of taxpayers who file their returns electronically,who includetheir direct deposit information, and whose returns are not stopped by IRS processing filters, the process will be seamless,” she said.

However,“the success of the ﬁling season will be deﬁned by how well the IRS is able to assist the millions of taxpayerswho experience problems,” she wrote. And that could encompass millionsof folks.

Let’sjust walk through some of the challenges that Collinssees for this tax season.

Understaffing

The IRS started 2025 with about 102,000 employees and ended the year with about 74,000, a27% reduction in “virtually all IRS functions,including Taxpayer Services,” Collins wrote.

Here’saneye-popping observation from her report: “The IRS generally receives over 100 million telephone calls and several million pieces of taxpayer correspondence each year.”

Although some of those open positions will be backﬁlled, “the numberswill be smaller,and new hires generally need to be trained from scratch,” Collins wrote. What aself-defeating move to cut customer service representatives who answer telephone calls and process taxpayer correspondence andcasework.

My advice: Fileassoon as you can, triple-check all your math and pack an abundance of patience if you need to contactthe IRS.

Refund delays

Last March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling on the federal government to reduce the number of paper checks it issues. As aresult, refunds issued during the 2026 ﬁling season will generally be delivered electronically as the IRS phases out paper checks, Collins said. However,this big push to go all-digital might be aproblem for many people who receive refunds but don’thave bank accounts.

“This transition is expected to disproportionatelyaffect unbanked, underbanked, disabled, elderly,and other vulnerable taxpayers for whom paper checks have often been the only practical means of receiving refunds needed to cover basic living expenses,” Collins wrote.

About 5.6 million households don’thave achecking or savings account, according to a2023 Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. survey On paper (pun intended), that makes sense. It costs more tomail acheck than to deliver it electronically.And Treasury checks are 16

WORKFORCE

Continued from page1E

“Coordinating that into asingle open door for the employers to walk through is ultimately what we’re trying to do,” Schowen said. The redundancy issue in employer outreach also led to aconcentration of attention toward larger companies, she said, and theinitiative aims to addressthe needs of small to midsizedbusinesses.

“This just puts aframework around it that assures that there are open lines of communication, that there are good ways to share information received from employers to the people whocan

timesmore likely to be lost, stolen, returnedoraltered thanelectronic payments, Collins pointed outina blog post last year

“Progress should not comeat the expense of the most vulnerable among us,” Collinswrote. “For some taxpayers, paper checks are not just amatter of preference; theyare the only option thatrespects their ﬁnancial reality,geographic constraints, or religious convictions.”

If aﬁlerdoesn’tprovide adirect deposit account, the IRS will send aletter requesting the informationoranexplanation for an exception.

“If there is no response to the notice and there are no other issues with thetax return, the refund will be released as apaper check after six weeks,” according to theIRS.

In an FAQ, the IRS said it will also provide alternative electronic payment methods, including payments via certain mobile apps and prepaid debit cards.

Fear of overdraft charges or high fees keeps some people from setting up accounts. But many banks and credit unions offer free checking with low or no minimum balance requirements.

My advice: If you know afriend or family member who doesn’t have abank account, help them open one and switch to electronic payments for their paychecks and any government payments, including tax refunds. NerdWallet posted this week its list of the 10 best free checking accounts for 2026.

TheOne BigBeautiful Bill Act

The majortax overhaul under theTrump administration will likely createone big headache for the agency and taxpayers. This Republican-backedlegislation made more than 100 changes to thetax code, according to Collins.

Some of the taxpayer-favorable deductions and benefits “are subject to complex eligibilityrules, incomethresholds, and phaseouts thatwill be difficult for manytaxpayers to understand and for the IRS to administer accurately during the filing season,” she wrote.

For example, seniors get a new deduction, and there are tax breaks for tip income, overtime pay and auto loan interest. In thelattercase, there’sa long list of requirements to deduct up to $10,000 ayear in car loan interest: To qualify,your car must be new, not used; bought forpersonal use (no leases); and assembled in the U.S. There’smore. The car loan must have been taken out after 2024 andobtained from astandard bank or lender —not from afamily member. Youalsohave to include the VIN on your tax return andmake sure the vehicle weighs less than 14,000 pounds. The deduction, which applies to the 2025 taxyear through 2028, begins to phase outonce what the IRScalls “modified adjusted gross income” exceeds $100,000 if you’re filing single, and $200,000 for married couples filing jointly

How likely is it that, between thestafﬁng shortage at the IRS and the complicated newrules for various deductions, there won’tbe alot of confusion?

My advice: If you don’twant your return or refund held up, be sure you understand all the new rules forclaimingany newdeductions. We would all love a“seamless” taxseason. But with all these fresh hurdles, ﬁleearly,triplecheck everything, andpray you don’t actuallyhave to call the IRS for help.

Email MichelleSingletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

actually dosomething about it,” she said.

Demand forworkforce support

The framework builds on Gov Jeff Landry’s Project Lightning Speed announcedinSeptember which appointed liaisons in the governor’sCabinet to state agencies in an effort to streamline business-related processes.

Landry has alsovowed to make thestate, which struggles with retainingresidentsand ﬁlling open roles, themost high-growth economy in theSoutheast. Adocumentoutlining how the state will achieve its economic goals identiﬁed “misaligned talentproduction and workforce services” as achallenge for state talent.

Last year,LED SecretarySusan Bourgeois embarked on atour of thestate’seight economic development areastogarner

Althoughtheylookand feellegit, these replicas will never ﬁre around of ammunition. Instead, theyare “surrogate” devices designed to act like their real-life counterparts—including recoiling when fired —and to collect data abouta shooter’sspeed,accuracy andother performance metrics.

Thetrainingtools are thecreation of Haptech Defense Systems, a12-year-oldNew Orleansbased tech manufacturing company that’sbeen working out of an ofﬁce and lab on AndrewHiggins Drive in theWarehouse District for thepast six years.

Haptech founderKyleMonti, a Luling native, developed and patented new ways for surrogates to imitatereal weapons afew years after graduating from theUniversityofNew Orleans in 2010. He’s spent mostofhis time since buildingconnections in the military training and simulation industry, nabbing research contractsworth roughly $17 milliontodevelop prototypes,build hardwareand software, and put it all into practice.

Now, Monti says hiscompany is hoping to begin mass commercial production, after gettingaboost from its biggestcontract to date: an $11 million program for the U.S. Army designed to develop prototypes for enhanced weapons skills training. The 20-month program, whichendedlastyear,helped Haptech create surrogates for several morecommonly used weapons.

“After adecadeofhardwork, it’s no longer about developing ﬂedgling tech,” Monti said during an interview at Haptech’sheadquarters earlier this month.“We provedit works. The next step is to sustainably build it and deliver it from our base in Louisiana.”

More high-techmanufacturing Haptech andits entertainmentfocused subsidiary,StrikerVR, represent the kind of high-tech manufacturing companiesLouisiana has been trying to build and attract for decades to diversify an economy overly reliant on energy, portsand hospitality.

State and regional economic development officials celebrate thecompanies that are leading the way,like New Orleans-area stalwart Intralox, maker of conveyance systems for aglobal customer base, or theLouisiana shipbuilders venturing into selfdriving boats and work for the commercial space industry.Drone manufacturer Blueﬂite‘ssmall ofﬁceinLafayette is another promising development, as is theplanned $370 million Radiance Microchip facility in Ruston.

High-techmanufacturing for thedefense industry is anew area of focus, as state leaderspoint to legacy companieslike Textron andmore recent entrantsinthat category.But experts saythe state needs morelike Haptech.

“Wedon’thave many small electronics companies in the state,” said Josh Fleig,LED’s chief innovation ofﬁcer.“It’sbeenfun to seethem grow and pull solid talent from electrical engineering programs at LouisianaTech andLSU.”

But building andsustaining thesebusinesses from scratch isn’t easy, as Monti knows well. Military contracts can be unpredictable, established competitors have ahead start, and manufacturing products at scale has its own hurdles.

“Getting aprototype to work is hard, but the real work starts when youhavetomanufacture it the sameway everytime,” Monti said. “That’snot just aboutmachines and parts; that’sabout hiring and training the right people.”

From hapticstoHaptech

Haptech’s name is both an acronym and apun.

In thetech world, the term “haptics” describes the way machines

feedback from businesses on how thestate can assist their growth. Astraightforward process for workforce development was among the responses, according to Tedra Cheatham,executive director of LED FastStart, the agency’sworkforce recruitment, training and retainment program.

LED will ensure theresponse from partners in theinitiative leverages regional strengths and thestate’starget sectors.

“Businesses consistently shared theneed for aclearer point of contact, stronger coordination among workforce and education partners and solutions that better reﬂect the pace and realities of hiring,”Cheatham said in an email. “That feedback informed thedesign of this initiative.”

‘A natural fit’

Trey Godfrey,the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partner-

communicate with humans via touch, like an iPhone buzzing to announce anew text message or the way roboticsurgical equipment creates artiﬁcial resistance to help doctors workby“feel.”

Monti began his own deep dive into the ﬁeld when, post-college, he was looking for ways to combine hisinterestinscience,techand entrepreneurship.

Afriend with experience in defense contractingchallenged himtomodernize theway training weapons are made. Instead of using compressedair or gas to imitate therecoilofa gun, the young engineer patented an electronic system that uses linear motors, whichgenerate motionina straight line, to achieve asimilar effect.

That recoil is important because it forces trainees to keep their eyes on their targets while the gun is kickingback like its real counterpart would.

Monti said thesurrogate weaponshedesigned are easier and cheaper to operate andmaintain than theold pneumatic systems —and they have the added beneﬁt of collecting performancedata through an increasingly sophisticated software platform.

He’sspentyears makingthat case, taking meetingafter meeting withstakeholders in the roughly $15 billion militarytraining and simulation industry to build support for his new solution. In 2020, he brought on Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Conrad Rolling to help navigate the process. Their combined efforts have led to about adozen contracts that have helped pay for thedevelopment of new surrogate weaponsplus associated hardware and software.

Thecompany,whichbuilds its productsinits Warehouse District workspace,has bids outonanother $3 millioningovernment defense contractsasitcompeteswithmore established competitors, who still rely on legacy technology

“Using linear motorshas inherent advantages, but we had to build consensus in the military market,” he said.“We’rea small company competing against ﬁrmsthat have been building pneumatic simulatorssince the early 1980s.”

From grunts to gamers

As Monti workedtolandmilitary contracts, he also began exploring the entertainment applications of his patents. That led to the creation of StrikerVRtosell haptic-enhanced “blaster” devices —whichlook like guns from asci-ﬁ movie —to virtual reality entertainment venuesnearly adecade ago. To date, thecompany hassoldseveral thousand blasters,whichitservices

ship’ssenior vice president of talentdevelopmentand policy said theinitiative will address the common pain points foremployers, from upskilling their current employees to creating atalent pipeline into their company It builds on the organization’s existing duties: The partnership meets with about 140 companies each year to learn about their needs to inform the legislation that the organization advocates for.Inthe 2025 legislative session, thepartnership pushed for workforce training programs, including the M.J. Foster Promise Program,aﬁnancial aid program for adults pursuing degrees needed for high-wage, high-demand jobs.

Chris Masingill —president and CEO of Louisiana Central, an economic development organization for central Louisiana —said theinitiative will quicken the or-

HaptechDefense Systems founder and CEO Kyle Monti shows off a hapticsurrogate replica machine gun, above,and a linear motor,left, at Haptech.

and repairs in NewOrleans and at asecond facility in Europe. Now,anewer,cheaper version of the product —retailing for hundreds of dollarsinstead of thousands —represents the company’sﬁrst departure from purely business-to-businesssales.Inaddition to commercial operators, an at-home virtual reality enthusiast can buy the Mavrik online and use it to play about adozen games available on VR headsets madeby Facebook parent company Meta. The entertainment-focusedcompany’smost well-known client to date is the Universal Studios resort in Orlando, Florida. Monti’s team helped buildthe toyweapons fora“Minions”-themed target shooting attraction that opened in 2023.

Though Haptech andStrikerVR operate in different industries, Montiplans to grow both companies in asimilar way, using an “off the shelf”business model.

For Striker,that means making an even moreaffordableblaster, selling it on third-party sites like Amazon, and partnering with more gamemakers.

For Haptech, the goal is to massproduce surrogates of the most commonly usedweaponssomilitary customers or contractors can buy them just like they might buy commercially available laptops or software.

“The Armyand the Department of Defense are telling contractors this is what they want,” Monti said. Competingtobring jobs to La

On arecent weekdayvisit to Haptech’s headquarters, engineers and employees of its two sister companieswerebusyina workshop complete witha soundproof room andbenches covered with gun parts, wires, electronic components and tools.

In the center of the room,atechnician wasinstalling alaser in the barrel of amilitary training riﬂe. Afew desks away,a software engineer waswriting codefor atool that helps video gamedesigners control the movement and sounds of aMavrik blaster.Nearby,an electricalengineer was diagnosing aproblem with adevice.

It’sthis team that Monti is countingontopower both of hiscompanies forward as he pursues his “off-the-shelf”strategy

“We’re going makeproducts at scale using asupply chain Louisianaalready has in place because of companies in the oil and gas industry that make metal things,” the CEO said. “The military’sneed to train newrecruits is never going to go away.”

Email RichCollins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

ganization’sresponse time to connecting employers with resources forworkforce development.

Louisiana Central already has a close relationship with Central Louisiana Technical Community College and works with business leaders on adaily basis, he said, so the organization serving as a point of contact forthe initiative wasalogical choice.

“Itwas anatural ﬁt forusto step up and be aconduit,” Masingill said.

Schowen

STAFFFILE PHOTOS By MATTHEW PERSCHALL

ASK THE EXPERTS

New tech could transform soft serve ice cream industry

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

After years of research and fundraising, a frozen treat technology company is getting ready to churn out its product.

Cremmjoy, led by mechanical engineer Jason Hugenroth, has created a soft serve ice cream and slush machine that does not require the typical disassembling and cleaning process of a frozen dessert machine. Over the past ﬁve years, Hugenroth and his team have worked to develop prototypes, patent the technology and fundraise almost $3 million.

The technology displaces the nearly 200-year-old mechanism for soft serve ice cream by keeping the mix in a plastic bag inside the machine. The mix never touches other machine parts, eliminating the need to disassemble the contraption for cleaning.

“It’s a pretty radical departure from what’s been done for ice cream in general for about 180 years,” Hugenroth said in an interview at the company’s new Beaumont Drive headquarters. He founded Cremmjoy at the LSU Innovation Park, where his research and development company Inventherm was a tenant. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave the company a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant to develop a prototype of the technology Hugenroth said the company used a word-of-mouth fundraising strategy bringing in individual investors and demoing the invention.

Q&A WITH JASON HUGENROTH

It plans to test the product in test kitchens over the next year with a goal to have the machines on the market in 2027. In this week’s Talking Business, Hugenroth talks product development, company goals and Cremmjoy’s new headquarters. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What inspired the creation of this technology?

My company, before Cremmjoy Inventherm, that’s what I started in 2006 when I ﬁnished up my Ph.D. That was new technology development consulting work; we helped clients develop their technology I have a lot of background in refrigeration technology compressors.

We had, in 2019, ﬁnished up a project for a countertop ice cream machine for a client and did several generations of prototypes on that. Because of the work we’re doing on that, and the way your browser spies on you and stuff, I’m getting YouTube videos showing people cleaning a commercial soft serve machine, like the things you see in Dairy Queen or Yogurtland or places like that. It looked like a very difﬁcult process. I just started researching it a little bit, digging into it after spending some time with it kind of became the light that that really is the biggest problem in the industry, is that the machines have to be disassembled

Jason Hugenroth, CEO of Cremmjoy, stands at a milling machine used to make components for the machinery the company develops at its headquarters in

and cleaned and sanitized then reassembled regularly, or really should be done daily But most places maybe do it every few days. Kind of discovered that need, and then started thinking, we could come up with something where you didn’t have to do that, that would have a lot of market potential.

When you are demoing this to investors, what has been the reception of it? What are you finding and how are they receiving this?

It’s a tremendous amount of excitement. You have investors that have no idea other than generally being aware of soft serve machines when we bring them in. There’s a little bit of an education period. It’s not tremendously difﬁcult, because we’re actually able

to show them this is the current technology This is what they have to deal with. This is what they have to clean and this. We show them what we do on Cremmjoy It really paints the picture of what the beneﬁt is. Then, when you bring in people that are more like already either very familiar with the issues, or that are sort of industry experts and have background in this industry They already know what the problem is. We’re getting tremendous amounts of excitement from both our investors and then also potential customers and strategic partners. It’s because it’s such a paradigm shift in what’s out there right now Talk a little bit about your decision to remain here in Baton Rouge.Keep-

ing the headquarters in Louisiana, what does that mean to you?

I’m from Louisiana. I was out of state for about 10 years, and so my wife and I moved back, to be back in Louisiana, be closer to family There’s a general interest to be here. But then on top of that, the state actually has various programs that make it attractive to be here. Cremmjoy gets research and development tax credits. Our investors have been able to take advantage of angel investor tax credits. They give some ﬁnancial incentives to be here. It’s just a combination of wanting to be here and the state trying to keep you here has made it a good ﬁt for us. What are your goals overall for the company in the future?

The long-term goal is

that we need to make a return for our investors. You generally go through some type of process of it can be everything from merging with a bigger company to going public to private equity, or you can even have the payoff through once you just start generating revenue, start paying dividends to investors. But our focus in the upcoming few years is to keep ourselves on our development track and then get on the market and start generating revenue. Our overall goal is to disrupt the industry, to take a technologically stagnant industry and come out with a revolutionary product that’s going to be tremendously ﬁnancially successful.

Do you see yourself developing any other types of technology in addition to the Cremmjoy machine? Cremmjoy right now that’s our focus. Our technology applies to not only soft serve ice cream type products, but also to frozen beverages, so daiquiris and whatnot, and then on top of that, conventional machine companies can have a full product line, everything from a countertop low throughput system to a really big machine that you’ll see at Dairy Queen or McDonald’s. We’re hitting the market with a two-ﬂavor machine that’s in a good sweet spot to have a lot of market potential, but we’ll have a lot of work to do with just expanding our offerings and then also adding more purpose-built frozen beverage machines versus a soft serve.

Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor? We mainly test with vanilla.

161,305 trucktrips avoided 1M+ truckmiles eliminated ~1,700 metric tons of CO2eprevented

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Baton Rouge.

AROUND THE REGION

Storyteller initiative aims to highlight state’s successes

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

When Gov Jeff Landry named Susan Bourgeois secretary of Louisiana Economic Development in early 2024, she embarked on a statewide listening tour to ﬁnd out what mattered most to local business owners, community leaders and everyday Louisianians.

While she heard many inspiring stories during her conversations, people frequently lamented Louisiana’s poor performance in national economic and quality-of-life rankings or the lack of population growth relative to other Southern states There was a general feeling, she said, that what’s possible elsewhere couldn’t happen here.

At the recent Mardi Gras celebrations in Washington, D.C., LED unveiled a new program aimed at changing that narrative — something Bourgeois believes is key to successful economic development efforts.

It’s called the Louisiana Storytellers initiative, and it’s a marketing campaign that seeks to recruit 1,500 volunteers from around the state and arm them with information they can use to help spread the word about the opportunities Louisiana has to offer and the progress it has made in addressing some of the state’s longstanding problems.

“It is aimed at keeping people here, attracting people here and expanding existing Louisiana businesses,” Bourgeois said. “It’s really a comprehensive value initiative to use Louisiana’s private sector as our army.”

‘Amplify the opportunities’

LED already has 800 volunteer storytellers, all of whom signed up for the program at the agency’s pavilion at the Washington Hilton during the Mardi Gras festivities.

Storytellers are given access to a website containing data about recent “positive” developments in the state, including new investments, job growth, reforms to the

tax structure and improvements in school test scores. They can also download slide decks detailing such data points and insert them into presentations when speaking to community or industry groups.

The goal, program director Rachel Shields said, is not to ignore Louisiana’s obvious challenges but to give people facts that will help them spread the word about what’s going right

“We want to help amplify the Louisiana opportunity story from the inside,” said Shields, LED’s chief engagement officer “Because we know economic development is driven by narrative from trusted voices.”

LED also hopes to use its storytellers in targeted ways. When volunteers sign up to participate in the program, LED collects information

about their industry, company, geographic region of the state and areas of interest or expertise.

“We can break that down geographically or by subject matter when we have a speciﬁc message to push,” Bourgeois said. “If we learn of a new development, say that is relevant to hospital CEOs or health care companies, we can send it to them.”

Storytellers are also encouraged to share information about their companies — expansions or job postings, for example — that will be posted to the storytellers site. There’s also a text tip line to help LED collect leads.

“If an exec is sitting on a plane talking to another exec who expresses interest in relocating, they can text the hub and we’ll reach out,” Shields said.

Changes at LED

The storytellers initiative follows other new projects and changes at LED since Landry took ofﬁce.

During the past two years, his administration has revamped the agency, launched a new innovation division — LA.IO for short — and released a new statewide economic development plan.

The agency’s new leadership also beneﬁted from good timing.

Bourgeois was appointed just as the state entered talks to land the Meta Hyperion data center in north Louisiana, a project with a nearly $30 billion price tag that is bringing major investment to a formerly quiet agricultural parish. That announcement was followed last March by another big

deal: the Hyundai steel plant near Baton Rouge. It will be the South Korean automaker’s ﬁrst steel mill in the U.S. Altogether, LED has announced a record $76 billion in investment in the state since Landry took ofﬁce.

To be sure, the deals are not without controversy Consumer advocates worry Entergy ratepayers will be on the hook for the cost to build new natural gas power plants to fuel the Meta data center Environmental advocates worry about the impact of mega projects on the quality of life in nearby communities.

Critics also lament that the state continues to give tax breaks to new industry while cutting back on investments in health care and education.

Bourgeois said she is not dismissing the critics or the state’s problems. But she said making people more aware of positive things happening in the state has only an upside.

“Do we have challenges in education? Yes,” she said. “But we have forward momentum, so we are equipping sector inﬂuencers with information to spread that story in a way that we could never afford through a traditional advertising buy.”

Now that Washington Mardi Gras is a wrap, the agency — whose ﬁscal year 2026 operating budget and project commitments top $261 million is reaching out to statewide economic development partners to get more volunteers for the campaign, which was executed with help from Louisiana-based Innovative Advertising as part of a broader $75,000 spend.

“We believe by end of year this year we’ll have thousands of storytellers aggressively communicating,” Shields said. “We want to move the needle and change how we talk about Louisiana.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

Beyond isn’taplace —it’samindset. Andit’sabeliefthathas poweredusfor over80years We areJones Walker LLP,a ﬁrmdrivenbyanentrepreneurial spirit,adeepsenseofcommunity,and aﬁerce determination to deliverexceptional serviceand valuefor our clients.

Since1937, ourﬁrm hasbeencommitted to workingwithcommunityleaders to develop business opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing ourdedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork

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STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois, back left, chats with Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., on Jan. 30 at the Louisiana NOW pavilion inside the Hilton during Washington Mardi Gras.

Pizza Hut to close

Lafayette location

ALafayette PizzaHut is among 250 locations the chain is shuttering. The location, at 1821 W. Pinhook Road, will close, according to KPEL radio.

Parent company Yum! Brands announcedthe closures duringan earningscall this week, citing the locations at “underperforming,”

Missy Bienvenu Andrade and ShyraMoran were honoredbythe Leadership Instituteof Acadiana during itsannual meeting Andrade, president and CEO of the Community Foundationof Acadianaand graduate of Leadership Lafayette Class 28, was given Distinguished Alumnus Leadership Award, which recognizes alumni who have made substantial, lastingcontributions to the community Moran, community relations officer for Advancial Federal Credit Union and agraduate of Leadership Lafayette Class 36, was given the Ignite Leadership Award, which honors leaders who quickly mobilize others foraction, seek solutions to community challengesandcreatemeaningful change through their leadership.

Michael Goree was named director of fleet maintenance forAcadian Ambulance Goree hasbeen with Acadian since May 2011 and has held multiple roles across the organization, including technician, coordinator,ﬂeet supervisor and ﬂeet manager He is anative of St. Martin Parish.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

reports indicated. Pizza Hut’s store salesdropped 3% in thefourth quarter

The location is operated by ADT Pizza, theConnecticut-based group thatbought 26 Acadiana locations in 2018 from local franchiseeBrent Stolzenthaler.Itdoes not own thebuilding.

ADTPizzaownedand operated the location at 4404 Ambassador Caffery Parkway that burnedin 2024. The companydid notre-

Fool’sTake: Blue chip dividends

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spond to an inquiry about whether it will be rebuilt. Sunset coffeeshop to open Carencro location

ASunset coffee shop will open aCarencro location along University Avenue after the owners purchased abuilding recently

The owners of Grounded Coffee, Logan and Aaron Alleman, ﬁnalized thepurchase of thebuilding

term investors.

Fool’s School: All about stock buybacks

at 3414 N. University Ave. last week, land records show.This will be Grounded Coffee’ssecond location

The building most recently housed Scott Oak Cleaners.

The Allemans announced the moveintoCarencro last month on their Facebook page. In May,theyopened at 832 Napoleon Ave. in Sunset.Grounded Coffee offers avariety of coffees along with croissants and mufﬁns.

Issued Feb. 4-10

Commercial alterations

OFFICE: 1245 Camellia Blvd description, second-ﬂoor renovation at Camellia Towers for RR CompanyofAmerica; applicant, AckalArchitects; contractor, Chart Construction; $60,000.

OTHER: 118 Toledo Drive,description, none listed; applicant, PFP Investments; contractor, TejasMex;$25,000.

DAYCARE: 800 E. Farrel Road, description, child carefacility at the former home of YMCAofAcadiana; applicant, AckalArchitects; contractor, Chart Construction; $60,000.

The companyhas raisedits annual payout for an impressive 60-plus consecutive years. Over the past ﬁve years, it has grown that payoutby24% —a solid pace that helped offsetthe effects of inﬂation. Its dividend recently yielded2.6%.

Coke has an impeccable supply chainand global brand recognition, andits network of bottlingpartners allowsittomaintainhigh proﬁt margins. Remember that Coca-Cola produces syrups and concentrates, whichits bottling partners then use to manufacture,package,merchandise and distribute itsproducts.

Coke thereby maintains high operational ﬂexibility across global markets, which canhelp it withstand region-speciﬁcslowdowns.

Thanks in part to its strong brands, Coca-Cola has been able to raise prices amid inﬂation and largelyweatherthe economic storm in recent years. While sales haven’tgone through the roof, it hassteadily increased its top line —by6%in2023, 3% in 2024 and3%in2025. This is the type of steady growth that can be counted on for dependable and consistent gains, and it permits future dividend growth.

Coca-Cola is alow-volatility stock, with abeta of only 0.36. (A “beta” of 1.0 means shares are about as volatile as the overall market;one below 1.0 reﬂects lessthan-average volatility.)

This is astellarstock that can be ideal for risk-averse long-

If you invest in individual stocks, you need to understand stock buybacks —the “repurchasing” of shares —which can be good or bad news.

Here’swhy you might celebrate astock buyback: Imagine apizza cut intoeight roughly equal pieces. Now imagine it cut intosix pieces instead. Each piece will be bigger, right?

It’s essentially the same with stocks. Each share represents a (small) degree of ownership in the company.When acompany buys back shares, essentially retiring them, it reduces the number of shares that exist; that meanseach remaining share represents alarger part of the company’svalue.

Here’sa simpliﬁed example: Let’ssay Buzzy’sBroccoli Beer (ticker: BRRRP) has 1,000 shares outstanding. If you own 100 of those shares, you own 10% of the company.But if Buzzy’sbuys back 200 of itsshares, thatleaves only 800 shares outstanding; if you still own 100, your stake in the company is now 100 out of 800, or 12.5%. You haven’tdone anything, but the company has transferred somevalue to you via the buyback. Dividends are one way thatcompanies reward shareholders, and buybacks are another.(Some companies do both.)

The main concern with buybacks is whether the company is buying its shares when they’re overvalued. In such acase, it’s wasting shareholder money and destroying value. That money might be better spent driving growth or paying a dividend. Astock buyback can also make earnings growthper share look

greater than thecompany’s overall growth in netincome. Imagine that Buzzy’searned$1,000 in itslast quarter.Ifithas 1,000 shares, its earnings per share is $1 —$1,000 divided by 1,000. After itsbuyback, though, $1,000 in earnings divided by only 800 shares yieldsanEPS of $1.25. So itsEPS has risen —not because the company performed better and earned more money,but because its share count shrank. It’s smart to check howmuch of acompany’sEPS growth is due to factors other thanimproved performance.

Ask the Fool:

Forcedselling

What is“forced selling?”—A.D.,Chepachet, Rhode Island It can refer to multiple things

Forexample, imagine you’ve invested “on margin.” (That’swhen your brokerage lends youmoney to invest with.)Ifyourholdings fall in value signiﬁcantly, youmight receive a“margin call,”requiring you to add money to your account —which you might do by selling some shares. If youdon’t takeaction, the brokeragemay force-sell some shares foryou.

Meanwhile, if youown shares of amutual fund anditcloses, your shares may be soldand thecash from the salesenttoyou.Also, if afund hasn’t been performing well, many shareholders may sell their shares, requiring thefund managers to selloff somestock the fund ownsinorder to paythe exiting shareholders whatthey’re owed. The managers may nothave wanted to sellshares, but they were forced to. (Ironically,this can happen after astock-marketcrash —atimewhen thefund managers might prefer to be buying shares of lower-priced stocks, notselling them.)

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‘Transformative’ AI plugging into doctors’ offices, ERs

BY EMILY BRINDLEY

The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

An extra set of eyes on radiology scans, double-checking for signs of prostate cancer A green light telling surgeons when it’s safe to operate on trauma patients. A reminder system that ﬁnds and ﬂags test results that need to be followed up on.

Artificial intelligence has bounded into the mainstream, into personal lives, classroom assignments and work meetings — so it should be no surprise to find it in doctors’ offices and emergency rooms, too.

Nationwide, according to a federal brief, hospitals’ use of AI tools is growing rapidly In 2023, 66% of hospitals used predictive AI tools in their electronic record systems. A year later, that number was up to 71%.

As AI saturates nearly every aspect of our modern world, some medical applications run directly parallel to the types of tools we’re already familiar with. Many doctors, for instance, are using AI tools to listen to, transcribe and summarize their patient visits. Medical ofﬁces are using automated scheduling tools to navigate patient appointments and cancellations

These administrative tools, while not the most exciting, are proving to be hugely important. By reducing medical providers’ workloads, these tools can help curb physician burnout,aproblemthathasplagued the medical ﬁeld for years

But in the ﬁeld of medicine, there are also many more dynamic — and controversial applications

AI tools can be used in clinical processes and decision-making, too, interfacing either directly with patients or with those patients’ care plans. The people who are working most closely with the development and implementation of these tools are excited. There are so many backstops that AI can provide, they say, to keep medical providers from making mistakes and to help understaffed emergency rooms respond more effectively to patient needs.

The people who are most excited about AI in health care describe the

technology as “transformative.”

As AI continues to evolve, day by day the central question for health care leaders is no longer whether they’ll use the technology in their medical facilities. The question, now, is how they’ll make sure the technology is improving patient care instead of imperiling it.

AI tools of all sorts come with caveats.

ChatGPT, among the most popular consumer-facing AI tools, has a caveat written at the bottom of the webpage. “ChatGPT can make mistakes,” the message says. “Check important info.”

Google’s AI tool contains a caveat, too, in a sidebar “Generative AI is a work in progress and info quality may vary,” it says.

AImistakesorhallucinationsmay not have life-altering consequences

when a user is looking for help rewriting emails or optimizing a to-do list. When AI tools are applied to medical diagnosis and decisionmaking, though, the stakes are signiﬁcantly higher

That’s part of why doctors and other health leaders emphasize that AI tools, at this stage in their evolution, are meant to assist medical professionals — not replace them.

Xiaoqian Jiang — a researcher and the director of the Center for Secure Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare at the University of Texas Health Houston said that many of the existing tools perform well in straightforward medical cases. The same isn’t yet true, though, for complex cases.

“I think we are on the edge, but many of the models we currently have are still not actually to the lev-

el of the expert,” Jiang said. “A lot of the time, sophisticated scenarios still need human judgment.”

Even tools that do work well can still make mistakes or erroneous connections, which a human eye may be able to suss out before any damage is done.

From a legal perspective, doctors remain responsible for the care they provide, no matter what outside tools they’re using.

Angela Clark is the director of the Urology Research & Education Foundation The organization was createdbyDr PatFulgham,aurologist who practiced at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for 35 years.

Clark and Fulgham said doctors’ legal liability is a built-in protection mechanism, preventing providers fromleaningtooheavilyonAItools.

“The providers are still held accountable, liable, for whatever they diagnose,” Clark said.

“Or fail to diagnose,” Fulgham added.

EvenwiththosecaveatsonAI,expertssaytherearemyriadwaysthe tools can help doctors do their jobs better And there are some things, AI proponents say, that these tools can do even better than a human doctor can.

Fulgham said there are AI tools that double-check radiology scans toidentifyriskfactorsthatahuman radiologistmighthavemissed.That could help to ensure accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer, he said.

“It’s not meant to replace the radiologist,” Fulgham said, “but it may pointoutsomethingthatwasinobvious to them.”

Similarly, there are tools that can look over a biopsy and assist a pathologist in determining how aggressive of a cancer a patient has. That information can then be used to inform a treatment plan.

Joe Longo — chief digital information ofﬁcer at Parkland Health and James Gaston chief data ofﬁcer at Parkland — say the health system has a wide variety of AI tools already in use.

Some, such as an early warning system that alerts providers when a patient is heading toward coding, havebeeninuseforyears.Theoriginal version of the system wasn’t called “artiﬁcial intelligence” at the time it ﬁrst rolled out, but it falls into that category now

The goal of that system, and the other tools that Parkland and the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation are working on, is to solve an actual problem in the hospital. AI tools are capable of all sorts of things. But if those tools are providing a solution where there is no problem, then they aren’t particularly useful to a health system.

“All the vendors are throwing spaghetti at the wall right now,” Gaston said “We’re trying not to just spend money and be excited about AI; We’re trying to make sure we’re delivering that value for the organization, for our patients.”

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Dr Sammy Khatib left, listens to Dr Michael Bernard as he uses artificial intelligence to help with surgery at Ochsner Hospital.

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Sunday, February 15, 2026

2026 MardiGras MardiGra

AboutGSW ............................................................................Page 3

KreweofGabriel.................................................... Pages4–10

History of theCarnival.............................................Page 11

Orderofthe Troubadours ............................Pages12–15

KreweofApollo .....................................................Pages 16 –19

KreweofVersailles ...........................................Pages20–23

KreweofCamelot Pages24–26

KreweofAttakapas..........................................Pages28–29

KreweofLes Brigands de Laﬁtte ...........Pages 30 –31

KreweofVictoria................................................ Pages32–33

KreweofXanadu ................................................. Pages34– 35

KeyDates.............................................................................. Page 36

KreweofBonaparte.................................................... Page 37

Scott Business Association ................................ Page 39

Bead Busters ..............................................................BackCover

Participating Krewes

Krewe d’Amusement

Krewe of Apollo

Krewe d’Argent

Krewe of Attakapas

Krewe of Augustus

Krewe desBon Amis

Krewe of Bonaparte

Krewe of Camelot

Krewe of Gabriel

Krewe desJunes Amis

Krewe of Karencro

Krewe of Oberon

Krewe of Olympus

Krewe of Rendezvous

Krewe de St. Martin

Krewe of Triton

Orderofthe Troubadours

Krewe of Versailles

Krewe of Victoria

Krewe of Xanadu

The GreaterSouthwest LouisianaMardi Gras Association (“GSW”) has organized safe and family friendly MardiGrasparades in Lafayettefor 92 years, since 1934.Todayover20Krewesare recognized under the GSW“umbrella.” The GreaterSouthwest Louisiana MardiGrasAssociation serves as aliaison between agencies of the LafayetteConsolidatedGovernment,the LafayetteSheriff’s Department, and other public bodies and all Krewes thatare under the GSLMGA umbrella in coordinating their needs

The Association notonlycoordinatesand stages theparades,but presents theCityBallonMardi Gras night. TheCity Ball is open to the public withnoadmission fee. The Association also produces and coordinates Le FestivaldeMardi Gras aLafayette at Cajun Fieldwith carnival rides and games,awide variety of live music, great Cajun food. The parades roll rightthrough thefestival site so everyone canenjoy all MardiGrashas to offer at oneconvenientlocation

The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association was established to foster, promote and coordinate Lafayette’sMardi Gras celebration. The Associationisnot aKrewe,but is aboardof volunteerswho produce and coordinate the City Balland

Parades,including securing ﬂoats,hiringmarchingbands, purchasing insurance, andworking withareagovernmental agencies

The Association also produces the“Le Festival de Mardi Gras a’ Lafayette” at CajunField.

The costs of MardiGras– the biggestfreeparty in Lafayette -are borne by the various Krewes andtheir members, and by theGreater Southwest Louisiana Mardi GrasAssociation. Thefestival is for 5days starting Friday evening thru to Tuesday

PresidentofGreaterSouthwest Louisiana MardiGrasAssociation

Chris Paul Villemarette

K KING

King Gabriel LXXXVII

John Wesley Bordelon

Gabriel LXXXVII, John WesleyBordelon, is the sonofthe late Mr.Vernon Paul Bordelon and Mrs.Frances Neece Bordelon of Metairie, Louisiana

Mr.Bordelon is married to theformer Suzanne Pamela Green, daughter of thelate Mr.and Mrs.Robert Lee Green, Jr.ofRiver Ridge, Louisiana King Gabriel and his wifeSuzanne have threedaughters and six grandchildren. Olivia Bordelon Michel and her husband Stephen Charles Michel arethe parents of Joseph LeeMicheland Mary Frances Michel; Molly BordelonStanfordand her husband Justin BrettStanford, arethe parentsof Camden BrettStanfordand Connor Bordelon Stanford; Kate Bordelon Judice and her husband Adam Michael Judice, arethe parentsofJohn Michael Judice andMarcRobert Judice.

Mr.Bordelon, a53-year residentofLafayette, graduatedfromEast Jefferson High School in Metairie,Louisiana in 1973. After being offered numerous football scholarships in Louisiana and Mississippi, Bordelon accepted afootball scholarship at the UniversityofSouthwestern Louisiana (USL),wherehewas a4-year letterman. He fondly recalls the friendlinessofthe Lafayette people and the Cajun spirit and culture as thedeciding factorsfor wanting to attend andplayfootball at USL. Bordelon and his teammateswereproud to have tied the best recordinUSL history in 1976. He graduatedfromUSL in 1977 with a degree in BusinessAdministration and Accounting. Due to the wonderful and welcomingfriendships developed in Lafayette while in college, the Bordelon’s decided to makeLafayettetheir permanenthome.

Upon John’sgraduation, he beganhis career working as aMedicare Examiner with the affiliate provider Blue Cross. He held this position for threeyearsbeforeventuring out to enhance his experienceinaccounting. He accepted the positionofController at Home Savingsand Loan in Februaryof 1981. Bordelon helped manageHome Savingsthrough the turbulentﬁnancial

Krewe of Gabriel

times during the 80’s. He served as Managing Officer from December of 1989 to January of 1993 when he becamePresidentand CEOofHomeBank. During the 45 yearsBordelon has led Home Bank, thecompanyhas grownfrom$110 million to over $3.5 Billion in assets,growing from twobranches in Lafayette to 43 branchesthroughout south Louisiana,Mississippi, and Texas. Under Bordelon’sleadership,the companywentpublic in October of 2008,the same daythe TARP Bill wassigned into law. The bank currently ranksasthe 380th largest bank in the United States. Although therewereonly 18 employees when John began his banking career at Home Bank in 1981,the bank todayemploys almost500 people today. Home Bank is the onlyremaining bank headquartered in Lafayette,Louisiana

Over the last 50 years, Mr.Bordelon hastried to focus on giving back to the communityheand his wife aresovery proud to be part of.Heserved on the Board of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerceand also served as Chairman. He wasnamed to the Board of Directorsfor theCommunityFoundation of Acadiana,and the UniversityofLouisiana Alumni Associationwhereheserved as Chairmanin2008.Heserved as Chairmanofthe CommunityBankersof Louisianain2008 beforeitmergedwith the Louisiana BankersAssociation in 2010. Bordelon has alsoserved on the Boards of Southwest Medical Center, United WayofAcadiana,Louisiana Open, AscensionDay School,Women’sand Children’sHospital, St.Thomas More Athletic Supporters, and the University of LouisianaAthletic Advisory Committee. He wasthe Co-Founder and theﬁrst Chairman of the Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation (RCAF).

Bordelon washonored with the 2021 Outstanding Alumni Awardbythe UniversityofLouisiana.Hewas also highlightedatlastyear’s University of Louisiana Spring Gala as theevent’s honoree, and he currently serves on the Board of the UL Foundation. Bordelon not onlyserves as Presidentand CEOof Home Bank, but in 2020 wasnamed Chairman of theBoard.Heand hiswifeare membersofAsbury Methodist Church.

Bordelon and his family have enjoyedbeing involved in LafayetteMardi Gras foroverfourdecades.Bordelon and his wifeSuzanne’sﬁrstinvolvement wasjoining the KreweofBonapartein1979. Bordelon waslatera RoyalDuke to King Napoleon BonaparteXXV.Hejoined theKrewe of Gabriel in 1996 and wasaRoyal DuketoGabriel LXVI. He washonoredasa Dukebythe Kreweof Attakapas in 2016. Bordelon representedthe KreweofXanadu as King Xanadu XXV. He served on the BoardofGreaterSouthwest Louisiana MardiGras Association fortwo decadesand served as chairman in 2014.All theKing’s daughters were debutants and RoyalMaids of theKrewe of Gabriel. The King’s oldest daughter, Olivia, wasa RoyalMaid to Queen EvangelineLXVI. His second daughter, Molly,was RoyalMaid to Queen EvangelineLXVIII. His youngest daughter, Kate,was Honor Maid to Queen Evangeline LXXI. All three daughters of the King were Maids in Les Brigands de Laﬁtte.

Serving as RoyalPages to hismajestyare Master Joseph Lee Michel and Master Camden BrettStanford, both grandsons of hisMajesty.Joseph is theson of Mr.and Mrs. Stephen Charles Michel and is in the4th grade at St.Aloysius CatholicSchool in BatonRouge.Camden is theson of Dr.and Dr.JustinBrett Stanford. Camden is in kindergarten at AscensionEpiscopal DaySchool.

MardiGrasholds aspecial place in the hearts of so many familiesin Acadiana.Likewise, it has always been an importantcelebration in the Bordelon Family.Itisatremendous honor to be chosen as King Gabriel LXXXVII, (87), King of Carnival! It is aprivilegetorepresentthe Greater Southwest Louisiana MardiGrasAssociationand all itsaffiliatedKrewes.

We pray foroutstanding weather forthis MardiGrassothatthe streets will be lined with families looking to enjoythe festivities Laissezles Bon TempsRouler!

Q QUEEN Kreweof Gabriel

ELily ClaireHutchison

vangeline the LXXXVII, QueenofCarnival, Lily Claire Hutchison, will reignoverthe 2026 MardiGrasfestivities in Lafayette, Louisiana. She isthe daughterofMr. and Mrs. Scott Larcade Hutchison. Mrs. Hutchison is the former Angela Rachelle Barry. Lilyisthe sister of Kate Barry Hutchison, John HayesHutchison and Hayden ScottHutchison. HerMajestyisthe granddaughterofthe late Mr.Arthur “Art”Frank Barry,junior, and Mrs. Marlene Barry.Mrs.Barry is theformer MarleneClaireJohn. Herpaternal grandparentsare Mr and Mrs. James Michael Hutchison, senior.Mrs.Hutchison is the former Claudia Delphine Daigre.

AnativeofLafayette, Louisiana,Queen Evangeline attended Cathedral-Carmel School and St.Thomas More Catholic High School, whereshe graduated with Scholar Honorsin 2025. At St.Thomas More,she wasafour-year member of STMCheer representing her school forthree yearsonthe nationallevel as a member of the Cougar Competition team. She served as Spirit Coordinatorof the Competition team her Senior year and wasawarded the distinction of UCA All- American Cheerleader at UCAcheercamp at the UniversityofAlabama. Shewas aUCA National Finalist in Orlando all threeyears. Lily wasafour-year member of Campus Ministry serving on both the Light and Quest retreatteams, andasaSenior Mentor to Freshmen as an IgniteBible Study Leader.She served on amission trip to PuertoRico her Senior year,and wasavolunteer forthe Hopefest Music Festival her Junior year.Lily alsoparticipatedinmanyother activities such as French Club,StudentAmbassadors, Cougar Companions and Cougarsfor Life. Lily wasan avid tumblerthroughout school, participating in both competitivetumbling and recreational tumblingfor acombined 14 years. Shecompeted at both the state and regional levels earning gold at both levels Lily is amember of St.Mary Motherofthe Church Parish.

Her Majestyiscurrently aFreshmanatLouisiana StateUniversity majoring in BusinessAdministration with plans to attend LawSchool. Sheisa member of KappaKappa Gamma Sorority. Lily embraces alifelong love of MardiGras andCarnivalseason. In 2024, she wasa Debutante in the KreweofGabriel Fall Presentation. She wasalsopresented as aMaid in Les Brigands de Laﬁtte in 2025. Lily is honored andhumbled to grace the courtTuesdaynightasEvangeline LXXXVII.

The Queen’sfamily has along history of involvementinMardi Gras festivities whichspansfourgenerations.Her mother, AngelaBarry Hutchison, wasa Debutante in the KreweofGabriel Fall Presentation in1994. Shewas presented as aMaidinLes Brigands de Lafitte in 1995,and as aRoyal Maid to Queen Evangeline the LVII in 1996. HerMardi Gras activities began as achild as amember of The Children’sCarnivalKrewe.Her father,Scott Hutchison, hasbeen amember of the KreweofGabriel and afloatrider in the King’s Parade on MardiGrasDay since 2003.His MardiGrasactivities began in TheOrder of theTroubadours as achild. Lily’s brother,Hayden ScottHutchison, wasa RoyalPagetoQueen Evangeline LXXVIIin2016. Herpaternalgrandfather,James Hutchison, senior,has been amember and floatrider in the KreweofGabriel since 1975.Heserved as aRoyal Duke to King Gabriel LXXVII in 2016,and he also reigned as King of the MysticKrewe of Louisianians in Washington, D.Cin1997.Her maternalgrandfather,ArthurBarry,junior,becameamember of the KreweofGabriel in 1979 He served as RoyalDuketoKing Gabriel XLVin1984, and enjoyedthe merrimentofMardi Gras as afloatrider formanyyears. Herpaternalgreat-grandfather,John BertrandHutchison, wasa member of theKrewe of Gabriel and a member of The Order of the Troubadours.Hereigned as King Richard Coeurde Lion IX in 1953.Her maternalgreat-grandfather,ArthurFrank Barry,senior,was honored as aRoyal Duke to King Gabriel XIX in 1958,and served as Commodore of the Krewein1966. Arthurreigned as King Richard CoeurdeLionXIin1955. Lily’s maternaluncle, ArthurFrank Barry III, wasa RoyalPagetoHis Majesty King Gabriel XLVI in 1985.Her maternalaunt, MichelleHutchison Killeen, was aRoyal Maid to Queen Evangeline XLVII in 1986.Michelle reigned as Queen BerengariaXXXIII of The Order of the Troubadours in 1985.Lily’smaternal great-aunt, Lynda Lee Barry,alsoreigned as Queen Berengaria XVIin1960, and Queen of Les BrigandsdeLafittein1958. Hercousin, Claudia Killeen Mixon, wasaRoyal Maid to Queen Evangeline LXXVII in 2016.Her uncle, Patrick Sean Killeen wasaRoyal Duke to King Gabriel LXVII in 2006.Her cousin, Mary Hutchison Richard, reignedasQueen EvangelineLin1989.

Attending the Queen this MardiGrasseason areher RoyalPages,Master WilliamPatrickRader and Master Benjamin GriffinDetraz.MasterRader is the sonofMr. andMrs.Neil PatrickRader and attends Cathedral-Carmel School. Mrs. Rader is the former Rebecca DaigreCurry.Master Detraz is theson of Mr and Mrs. Drew Christian Detraz and attends AscensionEpiscopal School.Mrs Detraz is the former Caroline ChristineBordelon. TheRoyal Jester is Miss Katherine Elizabeth Chachere. MissChachereisthe daughterofMr. and Mrs. John Michael Chachere, and attends St.ThomasMoreCatholic High School. Mrs. Chachereisthe former Kelli Katherine Weaver.

Lily is humbled anddelighted to reign as Evangeline the LXXXVII, Queen of Carnival2026.She extends warm greetingstoall in Acadiana and wishes everyone asafeand joyous MardiGrascelebration.

Queen Evangeline LXXXVII

ROYALMAIDS to theCOURT

Kylie Ryhan Miciotto,daughter of Mr.and Mrs. CharlesWilliam Miciotto, junior,attends theUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette

BeverlyBernadettePotier,daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Robert WiltonPotier, attends theUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette

Isabella GraceBlanchard,daughter of Mr.and Mrs. BrianJosephBlanchard, attends theUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette

ROYALMAIDS to the COURT

Camille Marie Geoffroy,daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Gregory Paul Geoffroy, attends theUniversityofMississippi

Ella Grace Earles,daughter of Mr.and Mrs. DerrickGlenn Earles,attends Louisiana StateUniversity

Lillian Angelle Rader,daughter of Dr.Allison Raderand Mr.Norris PerryRaderIII, attendsthe UniversityofAlabama

RD KreweofGabriel

Honor Duke, Mr.Adam Michael Judice is marriedtothe formerKateMcCormickBordelon

Honor Duke, Mr.Brandon Charles Trahan is marriedtothe formerAimeeClairedeGravelle

Mr.Cameron Charles Chappuis is marriedtothe former Amy Elizabeth Johnson

Mr.Robert Wilton Potier is marriedtothe formerJulia CarolineSonnier

Mr.Brian Joseph Blanchard is marriedtothe former Stephanie Synsatayakul

Mr.Charles William Miciotto is marriedtothe former CrystalAnne Zane

RD

Mr.Kyle Patrick Polozola is marriedtothe formerHelen Anne Chachere

Mr.Derrick Glenn Earles is marriedtothe formerAmy Rebecca Lemoine

Mr.JasonMichael Guidry is marriedtothe formerLorraine Rebecca Lemaire

Mr.Norris Perry Rader III is marriedtothe formerAllison Marie Zaunbrecher

Mr.ScottTyler Domingue is marriedtothe former CrystalAnnetteGreene

Mr.Jean-Paul Phillip Coussan is marriedtothe former Jennifer Elizabeth Joy

KreweofGabriel

Dr. E. Joseph Savoie served as presidentofthe UniversityofLouisiana at Lafayettefrom2008 until2025, leading the Universitythrough aperiod of remarkablegrowth and success.

On Aug. 1, 2025, he transitioned to presidentemeritus.

Aproud UL Lafayettealumnus, Dr.Savoie earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from theUniversityand latercompleted his doctorateineducationalleadership and administration at Columbia University’sTeacher’s CollegeinNew York.

Dr.Savoie’spresidency wasmarked by significantadvancements in academic excellence, campus infrastructure,research capabilities,and community engagement. In 2021,the University earned the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification, placing it among the top3%ofresearch institutions in the nation. Under Dr.Savoie’sleadership,the Universitysurpassed$250millioninexternallyfunded research forthe first time, launched the largest comprehensivefundraising campaign in itshistory, implementedamasterplanfor campus growth, introduced newundergraduate and graduate degree programs,and opened itsHealth Sciences Campus

He alsooversaw signiﬁcantenhancements to campus,including the expansion and renovation of academic buildings, research centers, housing, athleticsfacilities,and the constructionofa modern and moreengagingStudentUnion.

Atirelessadvocatefor highereducation, Dr.Savoie held numerous leadership rolesatthe state andnational levels.Heserved in the cabinets of three governors. He wasLouisiana’scommissioner of higher education for12yearsand championed accessibilityand affordabilityfor students

Prior to his presidency,heserved hisalmamater as vicepresidentfor University Advancement, executivedirector of the Alumni Association, program director forthe Union ProgramCouncil, studentgovernmentadvisor andadjunct assistant professor.

Dr.Savoie wasmarried to the late Gail Heinbach Savoie, a1977 graduate of theCollegeofEducation &Human Development. Ateacher andaccomplished artist,Mrs.Savoiewas aproud ambassador for heralmamater.The Savoies have twochildren, Blaireand Adam, and agranddaughter, Addison Marie.

KatherineElizabeth Chachereishonored to serveasthe 2026 RoyalCourt Jester forthe GreaterSouthwest MardiGrasAssociation. She is the daughterofMr. and Mrs. John Michael Chachere, Jr

Katherine is agraduate of Cathedral-CarmelSchool and is currently asophomore at St.Thomas More CatholicHighSchool. She serves as aStudentCouncil ClassRepresentative,anSTM Ambassador,and an STMCheerleader.Katherineisinvolved in CampusMinistry,Cougars forLife, Cougar Companions,and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.She has earned placementonthe Silver AcademicHonor Roll and wasselectedtorepresentthe sophomore classonCougarCourt

Katherine enjoys participating in STM’sfaith-based opportunities,including Campus Ministry retreats,the PuertoRicoMission Trip,and Marchfor Life in Washington, D.C. Shehas also dedicated her time to communityvolunteer servicewith St.Joseph Diner,Second HarvestFood Bank, TheHub, andMiles Perret Cancer Services

Katherine looksforwardtosharing amemorableand joyous MardiGrasseason withthe Acadiana community.

Camden BrettStanford,son of Dr.Molly and Dr.Justin BrettStanford

JosephLee Michel,son of Mr.and Mrs. StephenCharlesMichel

Benjamin Griffin Detraz,son of Mr.and Mrs. Drew Christian Detraz

William Patrick Radar,son of Mr.and Mrs. Neil PatrickRadar

E. Joseph Savoie

Katherine Elizabeth Chachere

Parade Marshal

RoyalJester

Historyofthe Carnival

The story of MardiGras&Lafayette’sMardi Gras celebrations. Thereare manytheories concerning the origin of Mardi Gras.However, it is generally accepted thatthe observance of MardiGras(alsoknown as Carnival) arises from the desire to have a good time beforefasting -to eat, drinkand be merry -beforebeginning theperiod of fasting during Lent.

Theterm “Carnival” is derived from the phrase“carne vale”,which translatesto“farewell to ﬂesh”.Fasting is an old custom and during the Middle Agesit wasa very serious matter.The consumption of meat, eggs and milk were forbidden during Lentbyboth ecclesiastical and statutelaw.Evenaslate as 1560,lawswerepassedpunishing butchers forslaughtering animals during the Lentenseason.

Throughoutthe eighteenth century,the festival of carnival was celebratedacrossthe world, Russia,Africa, India,Persia,England,and throughout the European continent. During thisperiod, the carnival in Francewas encouraged and sponsored by the French kings.The French Revolution ended the French celebration of carnival. However, early in the nineteenth century the celebrationwas reinstatedby Napoleonwithall of its’ former revelry.Itisthoughtthatduring this time, students from NewOrleans,who were attending school in Paris, witnessthesegrand celebrationsand broughtthe idea the celebration of carnival back to NewOrleans,and eventually to Acadiana.

TheﬁrstMardi GrascelebrationsinAcadiana were very primitive. The women made costumes fortheir men to “Courir de MardiGras”

(literally translated“FatTuesdayrun”). On MardiGrasday,these masked men would go from farm to farm knocking on doors, singing songs, dancing, and asking forchickens,rice,and whateverwas necessary to makeagumbo.The Captain led the group of maskersand therewas muchmerrimentand clowning. Theywereusuallyfollowed by musicians in wagons which alsocarried the hens and gumbo ingredients they had collected along the way.

Theculmination waswhen everyone returned to their starting point and the women made agumbo with the ingredients.This unique celebration is still going on in the manyrural communities of Louisiana,including Mamouand Eunice.Large numbersoftourists from all over the United Statesand the world come to “Cajun Country” come to participate in the annual “Courir de MardiGras” festivities.

Thefirstrecorded celebrationofMardi Gras in Lafayette wason February 14,1869whenaccording to the local newspaper “. ..Clement’s band provided themusic in the courthouse. ..“.But the first city wide all futureLafayette MardiGrascelebrations.The first King wasJudge GeorgeArmand “Bedon” (High Hat) Martin,known as a“...raconteur, dentist,planter, solon, and genial gentlemen.”

JudgeMartin reigned as King Attakapas,and on March2,1897,he roared into Lafayette on aSouthern Paciﬁc locomotivethathad been transformed into hisroyal throne. All futureKingsarrivedinLafayette in the same grand manner until1961, when HerbertAbdalla (the 22nd King Gabriel) used thetrain forthe last time. JudgeMartin’sQueen

See History Page27

Kreweof Krewe of Troubadours

Troubadours

Celebrates 73 Years

T73 YEARS

he Order of the Troubadours ball washeldFebruary 7th in the Frem BoustanyBallroom of the Heymann Performing Arts and Convention Center. The title of the ball was “The Court of Phillip of France, the Wines of the Aquitaine ”

Reigning overthe gala were King RichardCoeur de Lion LXXIII, Eric Abbas Movassaghi and Queen Berengaria of NavarreLXXIII, Emily Anne Broussard.

The royalcourt included Sir Kenneth Of Huntington, RoyalKnightofthe CouchantLeopard, RichardBradley Herrmann and Lady Edith Plantagenet of Aquitaine, Juliet Elizabeth Cieslak

Special Characterstothe Court, representing Ceres, Goddessofthe Harvest,IsabellaMaria Pecoraroand Grand DuchessMargueriteofFrance, Mamie ElizabethSearcy

RoyalMaids and Dukes were Ella Elizabeth Costello,TimothyJames Costello, SydneyAddison Dyson, Harry Rothman Dyson, Margaret

Allene Morvant, John Pierce Morvant, Lauren AshleyQuoyeser, John Camille Quoyeser,Emily Rose Davis and James Austin Martin II.

Junior Attendants were Emma ClaireKeaty,Grant George Gerdes, Olivia Michelle Coffelt,BrooksWayne Martin, Kate Frances Wood, James St.Paul Keaty II, Emilia Grace Coffelt, Tanner Hays Newman,Elizabeth Grace Quoyeserand John Benjamin Luke IV

RoyalAttendants

Sir Kenneth, Lady Edith, and RoyalAttendants

Sir Kenneth of Huntington: RichardBradley Herrmann

Lady EdithPlantagenet of Aquitaine: JulietElizabeth Cieslak

RoyalAttendants: CarterJamesSmith, Colin Ingram Kennedy, LaurenEliseWood, Estelle Elisabeth Matt

King, Queen and

King RichardCoeur de Lion, 73rdKing of the Troubadours – EricAbbas Movassaghi

QueenBerengaria of Navarre – EmilyAnneBroussard

RoyalAttendants - AmeliaMarie Adams, Margaret Elizabeth Andrus, Sophia Rae Cooper, Caroline CristKuon

Grand Duchess – MargueriteofFrance Special Character – Mamie Elizabeth Searcy Stewardstothe Grand Duchess – JacobWesley Tilly,Thomas Landry Lee

Ceres,Goddessofthe Harvest Special Character –IsabellaMaria Pecoraro GonfalonierstoCeres – MollieAnn McCullough, Addison ClaireMeyer (notpictured)

“The Sacred Gifts of Nature” – HerGrace Ella Elizabethofthe House of Costello RoyalDuke– TimothyJamesCostello

Gatekeepersofthe Court Karoline Elizabeth Cox, Anna-Grace MarieAdams

Kreweof Troubadours

TeenageDancers

Toprow:LondonElizabeth Schacht, Chaney Frances Joseph,Ruby KathrynGuillory, Isabella Jane Dyson

Middle row: Abigail MarieAdams, Cecile Katherine Anselmo,MichaelAlexander Krysewski,Catherine ClaireLaCour, MaeEvelyn Keaty

Frontrow: Azalie Rose Crain, Addison ReneeDelhomme, William Mark Ellis, Christopher Todd Lee, Jr., Lillia Rose Mosser, Mary-Paige Rae Shuman

NotPictured:Elizabeth Frances Pourghaed, Railey Landry Robinson

“The Art of the Vine” – HerGrace Sydney Addison of theHouse of Dyson RoyalDuke – Harry Rothman Dyson

“Cabernet Sauvignon” – HerGrace Margaret Allene of theHouse of Morvant RoyalDuke – John Pierce Morvant

Junior Attendants

Toprow:Tanner Hays Newman, JamesSt. Paul KeatyII, Grant George Gerdes, Brooks Wayne Martin

Frontrow: Emilia GraceCoffelt, Emma ClaireKeaty, Olivia Michelle Coffelt, Kate Frances Wood

Elizabeth GraceQuoyeser

myNot

“Sauvignon Blanc” – HerGrace Lauren Ashley of theHouseofQuoyeser RoyalDuke – John Camille Quoyeser

“Champagne” – HerGrace Emily Rose of theHouse of Davis RoyalDuke – JamesAustin Martin,II

Pictured:JohnBenjamin Luke IV

Kreweof Apollo

The Mystic KreweofApollo de Lafayettepresented itsForty-Ninth Annual MardiGrasBal Masque on Saturday, January 31, 2026 in the LafayetteCajundome Convention Center Approximately 2,100 spectators attended this year’s Bal Masque as invited guests of the Captain, Royaltyand the Krewe’s90 members.

KingApollo XLVIII -Jared Eubanks, KreweTreasurer

ANightatthe Museum wasthe theme of Bal Masque XLIX. Elaborate costumes were presented by variouskrewe members. The costumes represented variousworldwide museums and the contentscontainedtherein, all with the standardApollo ﬂair.The National Anthem wasperformed livebyDextaci, theForever MissGay America2022, and the presentation of colorswas provided by Master Sergeant Angelle Fedeli, Master SeargeantJacobSigue, Master SergeantReagan Wilkersonand Staff SeargeantAaron Mandeville. The crest of the Mystic KreweofApollode Lafayettewas presentedfor the 49thtime. Mr.Apollode Lafayette,KadariusBlack, waspresented, along with Miss National Apollo, Sy’Ria Synclaire, from Apollo de Lafayette, and Mr.National Apollo,Mr. Razr,fromApollodeBaton Rouge.

At the sound of the Captain’s whistle,Bal Masque XLIX, was kicked off with atributetoPaisleyPark, the home and studio museum of the legendaryPrince.Seventeen krewemembers kicked off the nightwithaproductionnumberto“Let’sGo Crazy”.

Reigning royalty, King ApollodeLafayette XLVIII, Jared Eubanks, and Queen Apollo de LafayetteXLVIII, Will Thiele, majestic rulersofInventions from 2025made their regal entrance. Returning royaltyworetheir original outﬁts made of rust dupioni silk with hand beaded copper,brown,orange and gold original appliqués.Their beautifuloutﬁtswere accentedbytheir custom crowns,sceptersand backpieces createdfor theirreign.

Next,Cameryn Nezatgraciouslyﬁlled in forthe Captain, Darrell Frugé, wearing the Captain’s costumerepresenting the “MuseumofNatural History”asthe Africanbush elephantwhich is displayedinthe museum’sRotunda. A large handmadeelephantentered the stagewiththe body made into apropand the elephanthead as an Apollo style backpiece.

Laterduring the evening, Bal Masque Co-Captain and KreweVice President, Ben Boudreaux, represented“The GrandEgyptian Museum”withabackpiece wearing King Tut’sBurial Mask. One of theBal Masque Lieutenants and Honor Court Members, Doug Taylor,representedthe “Park West Museum” with large scale replicasofpaintings by PeterMax. Our second Lieutenantand HonorCourt Member,Emmaneul Gumbs,representedthe “Lindt Home of Chocolate” museum with itssignaturechocolate fountain andlotsofglamour

OtherBal Masque Honor Court MembersKevin Doerr, alsoour KrewePresident, represented“TheWaltersArt Museum” with abackpiece containing alarge scale replica of the Gatchina Palace Fabergéegg;Jay Frost,represented the “Museum of TheAmericanRevolution” with various pieces createdtopay tributetoour history; Chad Terro, representedthe “Voodoo Museum”asPapa Legba; Michael McIntosh, representing the “Liberace Museum”;Jason Guilbeau, representing “The Palace of Versailles”,Ted Viator, representing “The Museum of Archaeologyand Anthropology”;Brent Meche,representingthe “Neon Museum” from Las Vegas; and HL Cabral representedthe “Jon Waters Museum”asDivine.

One of our BoardMembers at Large,Chris Terro, entertained the crowd as the “CountryMusicHall of Fame” withlivevocals of “Friends in LowPlaces” while the Apollo dancersline dancedthroughthe crowd andencouraged guests to singalong. OursecondBoardMemberatLarge, Taylor Dizor,representedthe “Museum of Natural History” displayingThe Hope Diamond.

Othermembers on Apollo’scourt representedvarious other museums,includingAndrewDiaz as “Dia de LosMuertos Museum”;SethAymond as “Graceland”,Mark Melancon as “The BroadwayMuseum”completewith livevocals of amedleyofBroadwaytunes; Aaron Dufreneas“Ripley’s

BelieveItorNot; JacobMuffoletto as “The Poison Garden”; Shane Menkiewicz as the“Museum of Death”; Sasha Black as “The National Museum of Wildlife Art”; Ross Doizéand AndreCarr representing the “Insectarium” withcostumes respectively displaying beetles and butterﬂies;Dailey Thibeaux as “SaveThe Arts”;and Cullen Gravouia as the “MuseumofCandy”.

Thetableau ended withthe arrival of theirmajesties,King and Queen Apollo XLIX,Rulersof“ANight at theMuseum” King Apollo XLIX, GrantMireisthe Imperial Rulerof Apollo’s“ANight at theMuseum”.The King wore aregal imported ice-blue satin Shakespearean style outfit,covered in hand beaded silver,gold and blushappliquesand further embellishedwithcrystal and aurorarhinestones with lavender accents.His beltedoutfit featured ahighcollar and flared waistcoat. Histailored pants,overcoatand vest all featured arhinestone lattice pattern, accentedwiththree dimensional glassflowers. The King choseabove theknee ridingboots decoratedtomatchhis ensemble.

Queen Apollo XLIX, Karma Delour, wasthe Empressof Apollo’s“ANight at theMuseum”.The Queen’sdress wasa fittedbodice withaflared hemline and had aunique, flowing overskirt of layers of imported ice-blue satin, embellished with arhinestone lattice pattern and accentedwiththree dimensional glassflowers. Herappliqueswerealsohand beaded in tones of silver,gold and blushwithlavender accents.The Queen’sbodice washeavily encrusted with rhinestone trims

King and Queen Apollo XLIXworeregal backpieces representative of an antiqueFrench lattice wall paneldesign, surrounded by silver,blueand gold scrolls and further highlighted with ﬂoraldesigns.The massive collarswere distinguishedbytheir unique design encrustedwithaurora borealis rhinestones,backed withice blue ostrich plumes and ﬂanked by lavender and palebluepheasantfeathers.

Queen Apollo XLVIII -Will Thiele

Their beautiful ice bluemantels repeatedthe rhinestone lattice design and trimmed withagoldand silver scrolled border

Both King and Queen wore custom crowns of crystal, aurora borealis,and colored stones. They each carried unique sceptersingold settingsdesigned to pair withtheir crowns

The costumes and backpieces were designed by TedViator. KarenGuidry wasthe talented seamstress and Mike Perioux, alsoanHonor Court Member of the Mystic KreweofApollode Lafayette, fabricatedthe backpieces

The exciting nightended as special guests of the Captain, King, Queen and Krewewererecognized. Theparty continued in the Convention Center as the Apollo Kreweand guests danced forhours, ending with all krewemembersonstagefor a “New York, NewYork,” tradition!

Director of the production wasRebeccaLandry andthe choreographer wasJade Landry Gauthreaux,bothofGerami AcademyofFine Arts. Master of Ceremonies wasJohn “JayCee” Falcon. TheOfficerand BoardofDirectorsof the Krewefor the 2025-2026 year are: Captain,Darrell Frugé; President, Kevin Doerr; Vice President,Ben Boudreaux; Secretary,Sherman Bernard; Treasurer,Jared Eubanks; Historian, Shawn Pujol; and BoardMembersatLarge,Chris

Terroand Taylor Dizor. Selected by the Captain, the CoCaptainwas BenBoudreaux, andthe Lieutenants were Doug Taylor and EmmanuelGumbs

TheMysticKrewe of Apollo de Lafayette would liketothank its patronsand sponsors, acknowledgingPlatinum Level Underwriters,The LuckyLaw Firm andUniquePhysique; Premium KreweUnderwriters –TropicalSmoothie,Avita Pharmacy, and Chase Dronet,DDS with Magnolia Family Dentistry; KreweUnderwriters–TropicalSmoothie (additional sponsorship), Adopted DogBrewing, Deep South Productions,Piccione LawFirm, Chas Cummings Photography, Joel Cognevich &EricMealus,Serenity MedAesthetics,and UBreakIFix; Apollo Benefactors –Serenity MedAesthetics (additional sponsorship), Richaud Real Estate; and Friends of Apollo –Legendsand Westline Event Center, Carl J. Rachal (Attorney at Law), AdvancedEnergyand VW Plus

Thekrewe would alsoliketothankall of their guests, Associate Krewes andfriends fortheir continuous support, friendship andloyaltythroughout the past 50 years. As always, your encouragementand MardiGrasenthusiasm were the motivationfor Bal Masque XLIX, “A Nightatthe Museum”

In studioroyaltyphotographs and on stagephotographs arecourtesy of Ahhee Photography.

To keep up withcurrentevents of theMysticKrewe of Apollo de Lafayette,pleasevisit ourwebsite, www.kreweofapollo.com, and like us on Facebook under The MysticKrewe of Apollo de Lafayette.

Save thedate forour next annual Bal Masque,tentatively scheduled forSaturday, January 23,2027as we celebrate our50th Anniversary!

We hope to seeyou there!

Museum of NaturalHistoryCameryn Nezat

Museum of the American RevolutionJayFrost,HonorCourt Member

The Walter Art Museum-Kevin Doerr, KrewePresidentand HonorCourt Member

Voodoo MuseumChad Terro, Honor Court Member

Dia de los Muertos MuseumAndrew Diaz

Liberace Museum -Michael McIntosh, Honor Court Member

Park West Gallery(Peter Max)- Doug Taylor,Bal MasqueLieutenantand Honor Court Member

Palace of Versailles -Jason Guilbeau, Honor CourtMember

GracelandSeth Aymond

Museum of Archaelogyand Anthropology TedViator, Honor CourtMember

Museum of DeathShane Menkiewicz

Museum of BroadwayMarkMelancon

Neon Museum -Brent Meche, Honor Court Member

Country Music HallofFameChris Terro, BoardMember at Large

The Grand Egyptian MuseumBen Boudreaux, KreweVice President and Bal MasqueCo-Captain

Ripley’sBelieve It or NotAaron Dufrene

Museum of NaturalHistoryTaylor Dizor,Board Member at Large

Lindt Home of ChocolateEmmanuel Gumbs,Bal Masque Lieutenantand Honor Court Member

The Poison Garden at AlynwickJacobMuffoletto

National Museum of Wildlife ArtSasha Black

Insectarium(Beetles)Ross Doize

Insectarium(Butterﬂies)AndreCarr

Save The ArtsDaileyThibeaux

PlanetariumAJ Jubran

Cabral,Honor Court Member

Museum of CandyCullen Gravouia

QueenApollo XLIX -Karma Delour

King Apollo XLIX, GrantMire

OnJanuary 3, 2026,the Children’s Carnival KreweofVersailles celebratedits 50th annual balland 51st anniversary at Angelle Hall. King Louis RoideSoleil L, Saxon Fisher Mosing, sonofLindseyMosing, andInfanta Queen Marie ThérèseL,Stella ClaireWalker,daughterofMichael and Kari Walker called forth their subjects forthis year’s festivities as theyproudly presented“La Fete Cinquante -50Years of Versailles in the Spotlight”

Past RoyaltyHenry PiercePerret,King Louis Roi de Soleil XLIX, andShelbyGraycePiasecki, Infanta Queen Marie ThérèseXLIX, honored the Kreweof Versailles with their royalpresence.Captain Beau Thomas Barrios, King Louis RoideSoleil XLVIII, and his lovely Co-Captain, Katherine AnnSaloom, Infanta Queen Marie ThérèseXLVIII assisted the Royaltyand their subjects.The King’sMessenger wasCharles Henry Schilling, III.Royal Attendants were Cecilia Elizabeth McCormick, Nora Alaine Saad, William JayMcCormick andMajor Baron Mosing. Gift Bearer wasEmma Kate Carbo

Kreweof Versailles

characters, performers,and entertainment styles thathaveilluminatedthe spotlightthroughout the 50-yearhistory of the Children’sCarnivalKrewe of Versailles.

The Children’sCarnival KreweofVersailles welcomed Taylor Trache as MistressofCeremonies. Entertainmentwas provided by the RoyalCourt Jesters, Ella Bernard andRileyDaigle from Gerami AcademyofFine Arts,and KingGabriel’sMessenger, Sawyer Grey Mosing, madea special appearance. A formal dinner and dance at the UL StudentUnion followedthis spectacular event.

King LouisRoi de Soleil L Saxon Fisher Mosing

Queen Marie Thérèse L

Stella ClaireWalker

Queen’sAttendants

King’s Attendants

Charles “Trey”Schilling,III

The Dreamer

The Star

TheMuse

The Maker

TheRomance of Ballet

The Golden Age of Theatre

The Spectacle of Cabaret

The Glamour of Old Hollywood

Christine Daae CirqueduSoleil

Wonder Woman Golden

Han Solo &LukeSkywalker (Star Wars)

Glinda (Wicked)

CaptainAmerica &Spiderman

LSUGoldenBand from TigerLand & LSUFootball Player

WillyWonka

Swan Lake Hamilton

SnowWhite

Marilyn Monroe Eliza Doolittle

Sophia MercedesPumarol-Cuervo

Kreweof Camelot

King Arthur XLII

Lonnie CoburnIV

King Arthur XLII

QueenGuinevere XLII Zoie Lynn Brazell

The KreweofCamelot celebrated its 42nd annual ball and pageanton Saturday,January 24, 2026,atthe Cajundome Convention Center Festival Ballroom. This year’s theme was“Le Festival de Camelot”. It encompassesa celebration of everyone’sfavorite Louisiana Festivals. Camelot’straditional stagedécor is reminiscentofKing Arthur’s Castle, constructed with stonewall architectureand elaborate gold and silver drapery withburgundy accents.The KreweofCamelot’screst is always proudlyplaced center stage above reigning royalty.

Camelot’sRoyal Monarchsinauguratedatthe annual eventwerethisyear’s King ArthurXLII, LonnieCoburn IV,son of Mr.and Mrs. Lonnie Coburn III. Queen Guinevere XLII, Zoie Lynn Brazell, daughter of Mr.Robert Brazell andMrs.Amy Brazell. SirLancelotduLac 2026 is Max Nader Qaisieh, son of Mr.and Mrs. Nader Qaisieh. Lady Elayne 2026isCharlotte Elise Chastant, daughter of Dr.and Mrs. BradleyChastant II.

Immediately following the pageant, aRoyal Receptionisheld in honorofour royalty andKrewe.The evening will wrap up with adance party for our young Krewe membersand their guests

Lonnie Coburn IV

Queen GuinevereXLII Zoie Lynn Brazell

THEROYAL COURT

KNIGHTS ANDLADIES

Lady International Rice Festival Georgia AnnPicou

SirPercivale &LadyFestival of Lights Jackson Cole Fontenot &EasleyOustalet Picou

Sir Lancelot du Lac &LadyElayne Max NaderQaisieh &Charlotte Elise Chastant

Captain of theBall Blaine James Cloutier

SirBedivere&LadyAcadiensdeCreole Grayson Alexander Sibley& Davis Dial Logan

KREWE OF CAMELOT

Merlin Scarlett Addison Sibley Jester EvangelineRose Miceli NOT PICTURED

ROYALATTENDANTS

THEME CHARACTERS

Peach Festival

Elizabeth McClainHethcoat

Strawberry Festival

Mary-Katherine Grace Hethcoat

Contraband DaysFestival

James Oliver Best& MiloTobiasBest

Festival desFleursDeLouisiane

Chloe Marguerite Bellelo,Mia HarlowBellelo, MadalineHollyn Bellelo

King’s Attendant

Ethan Joseph Stout

Queen’sAttendant

Charlotte Renee Fontenot

Shrimp&Petroleum Festival

AmeliaGrace Stout &CatherineMae Stout

Krewe of Camelot

continued from Page 11

wasIsureMcdaniel, courts reigned in otherRoyal chariots Gras parade,aG residents of Lafaye It wasnot until celebration wasr Daughters of Amer KreweofOberon, High School Carniv first MardiGrasp parade using ove In 1933,planning by StanleyMartin, In 1934, acity-wide the leadership of and LaurentComeaux, Lafayette, includ group invitedrep ameetingwheret Association wasf the Association in MauriceHeymann becauseheunde and wason its financial During these fo the Lafayette High of Lafayette’sMar another teacher days,the floatsw lightedbymen ca

ough 1947due to ed and has been orean Conﬂict). sist the Southwest as the idea of Dr. 1950,toserve to help Greater wasF.K. Dowty. sard,Second etary.Directors Henry Heymann, King Gabriel by MissEdith ian sweethearts Scotiaand ngeline”.George and Mabel eline. wascreated nd Queen Simone ardi Gras’ court ewe. They ell known for parade. ival krewes have selecttheir own ateﬂoats and es

The Krewe of Attakapas

King LacassineLVII,Noble Chieftain of the Attakapas Samuel RileyMoss, DDS and Queen KarakondyeLVII

Wise Owl, Cahoula andLaughing Water

The KreweofAttakapas,Lafayette’s ﬁrst mystic women’sCarnival krewe, celebratedits 57th annual carnival ball, “TheTribalPow Wow,” on Saturday evening, January 24,2026,atthe Frem Boustany Convention Center.Led by Cahoula,Captain of the Krewe, memberspreparedguests foran unforgettablenightofcelebration, highlightedby entertainmentfromtheir muse, Laughing Water-affectionately known as “Tootsiethe Turtle” -and guided by the Wise Owl, reveredelder of thetribe.

Reigning overthe festivities were Queen KarakondyeLVIIand King Lacassine LVII, NobleChieftain of the Attakapas,Samuel RileyMoss, DDS.

Dr.Mossisa lifelong residentofLafayette,wherehebegan hiseducation at L.J. Alleman and graduatedfromLafayette High School. He earned aBachelor of Science in ZoologyfromLouisiana State Universityand laterreceived his Doctor of DentalSurgery degree from the LSU School of Dentistry

He began his career in general dentistry in Church Pointbeforereturning to Lafayette, wherehehas practiced for45years. Dr.Mossismarried to theformer Michelle Mendoza and is the proudfather of three daughters:Dorothy (Greg)Roberts, Dr.Samantha (Thomas) Alston, and Margaret Michal Moss.Together,theyare blessed with six grandchildren.

Deeplycommittedtoservice, Dr.Mossisactiveinthe communityasa member of the KreweofGabriel (Royal Duke2000). He previously served as aDukefor theKrewe of Attakapas.Internationally, he has volunteered with Vision Ministries of America in Brazil,Mexico,and Guatemala,whereheand Michelle recentlyhelped establish a libraryinrural Palin. He also serves on the Staff-Parish RelationsCommittee at Asbury Methodist Church.

The Daughters of the Attakapas,eachrepresenting a“TribalPow Wow” maiden, welcomedsix NobleWarriors,Chieftains of theAttakapas:

·Dr. Blair Cooper Budden, dermatologist with LafayetteDermatologyand Cosmetic Center,married to Katy J. Budden, escorted by theDaughter of theAttakapas representing aCherokee maiden.

·Mr. TimothyLawrence Ryan, partner withthe lawﬁrm of Williams,Anderson, Ryan and Carroll, marriedtoAnne S. Ryan, escorted by theDaughter of theAttakapas representing aChickasaw maiden.

·Mr. Blair James Scrantz, with the Atchafalaya BasinLevee Board, married to Elizabeth F. Scrantz, escorted by the Daughter of theAttakapas representing an Apache maiden.

·Mr. PatrickFranklin Lewis,owner of Southern Aid Claims,married to Kathryn C. Lewis,escortedbythe Daughterofthe Attakapasrepresenting aChoctaw maiden

·Mr. Michael Glover,owner of FixItNow LFT,married to Kathryn“Kate”Glover, escorted by the Daughterofthe Attakapasrepresenting an Iroquois maiden.

·Mr. Charles Texada Hightower, attorneyatStubbsand Hightower, married to Mamie C. Hightower, escorted by the Daughter of theAttakapas representing a Kiowa maiden.

To capoff the magical evening, membersand guests danced the nightawaytothe high-energy sounds of BagofDonuts.

Photo Credits: DannyIzzo,Nouveau Photeau

Krewe of Attakapas

Dukeand Maid: Dr.Blair Cooper Budden andCherokee maiden

Dukeand Maid: Mr.Patrick Franklin Lewis and Choctawmaiden

Duke and Maid: Mr.TimothyLawrenceRyanand Choctawmaiden

Dukeand Maid: Mr.MichaelGloverand Iroquois maiden

Dukeand Maid: Mr.BlairJames Scrantz and Apache maiden

Dukeand Maid: Mr.Charles “Tad” Hightowerand Kiowa maiden

LLesBrigands de Laﬁtte

es Brigands de Lafitte held itscelebration on theoccasionofits 72nd Ball Masque,January 17,2026, in theFremF.BoustanyBallroomatthe Heymann Performing Arts andConventionCenter. Theentrancetothe ballroom washighlighted with ahugegraphic of theEtoileRouge,Lafitte’sfamousfighting ship,and alarge likeness of Jean Lafitte.The colorful Krewecrest hung over the master of ceremonies’podiumand thebackdropdepictedabeautiful sceneof southLouisiana.The stagewas filledwithtrees andfoliage typicaltoAcadiana. Thetheme forthisyear’sballwas “ItTakes Two” andguestscould seeareplica of this year’s doubloon hangingovercenterstage.Asthe guests arrivedtheywere greetedbythe chairman of thefloorcommittee,SterlingLejeune,who provided escortstotheir seatsinthe calloutsection

Thecelebration beganwiththe traditional captain’swhistle andthe entrance of Jean Lafitte,who enteredtossing long necklaces andtrinketstothe guests,followed by histrusted pirate officers carrying ahugepiratechest filledwithtreasures and giftsfor thebeautiful ladies whohad assembled. Lafitte’s handpicked governors then entered, leadingthe fearless brigands (their identity hidden undercolorful

2026 QueenAnnaCatherine Cryer is thedaughterofRussell Cryer andCharlotte BuschCryer and is asenioratSt. Thomas More CatholicHighSchool.Sheisafouryear cheerleaderand competition cheerleaderfor twoyears.She is apart of BreakfastofChampions, participated in Campus Ministry for four years, andservesasa Lightretreat team leader and Encounterretreat leader.Anna Catherineparticipates in the Optionsprogram as amentor, and serves as an STMAmbassador.

Amelia LouBreaux is thedaughter of Brandonand Michelle Breaux andisasenioratSt. Thomas more Catholic High School

Sheparticipated in theHonors programfor four years. Shewas amemberofthe tennis team for threeyears andparticipated as an athletic captainfor twoyears. She wasinvolvedinCampusMinistry forfouryearsandservedasaleader fortwo years. Amelia served as aschoolAmbassadorfor two yearsand participated in the Optionsprogram as amentorfor threeyears

uniforms andbehindfull-facemasks)who paradedaroundthe largedance ﬂoor tossingbeautiful necklacestothe enthusiastic crowd. By tradition,the ballroom slowly darkened andthe QueenofLes Brigands 2025,MissAmelieGrace Chappuis wasrecognized. Thekrewe,following custom,recognizedall former Queens in attendance.

Thedukes,eachrepresentingLafitte’syounger self,paraded theirway onto the stage. Afloat, illuminatedwithlasersand coloredelectroniclighting, enteredthe ballroom with theKing, Dr Jekyel andMr. Hyde,ridingatthe top, as he paraded around theballroomfloor. TheKingtossedtrinketsand gold pieces to hisassembled guests as he advanced to histhrone. Upon reaching thestage,hestopped and acknowledged hisdukes.Hethentoasted Jean Lafitte andtookhis seat on stage forthe presentation of theRoyal Maids.

TheQueen of LesBrigandsdeLafittewas announcedand presentedtothe audience by CaptainJeanLafitte. Followingthe GrandMarch andCourt Dance, members of thefloorcommittee called outthe namesofthe ladies invitedtodance with the masked pirates. Generaldancing followed to themusic of Jet7.

EmilyAnneBroussard is the daughter of Mark andCarolyn Broussardand is asenioratSt. Thomas More Catholic High School.She is amemberofStudent Counciland theNationalHonor Society, involved in Campus Ministry,servedasa student athletic trainer, andparticipated as astudentambassador. Emily serves as amentorinthe Options program, andisamemberof Cougars4Life.

Mary FrancisChappuis is the daughter of Cameronand Amy Chappuis andisasenioratSt.

Thomas More Catholic High School.She hasparticipatedin Campus Ministry forfouryears, hasbeenamemberofthe Cougar Spirit cheerteamfor four years andservesasco-captainthisyear. Fran is amemberofthe Cougars forLifeclubatSTM,participates as an Optionsmentor, andisan Ambassador for theschool. She volunteers with Hope Fest and babysits in herfreetime.

Anne MarieCortez is thedaughterof Davidand ElisabethCortezand is a senior at St.ThomasMoreCatholic HighSchool. Sheisafour-year memberoftheSparklerDanceTeam andservesasco-captainofsocial mediaduringher senior year.She is asix-timenationalchampion anda one-time worldchampion with theSparklers.Annereceived academic excellence awards and is an academic letterman. She participated in Campus Ministry forfouryears andservesasan Encounterretreat team member,a teamleader,andaBiblestudyleader. Sheisa member of theNational HonorSociety,Cougars forLife, Beta Club,and French Club.Ann serves as ateamambassador, is aCougarCompanion member, volunteers at Hope Fest,servedon aPuertoRicomission trip,and is a member of theHomecoming Court during hersenioryear.

Kate EliseDanner is thedaughter of Dwayne andElise Danner andisasenioratHighlandPark High School,Dallas, TX.She is a four-yearvarsity lettermanand currentcaptain of theHighland Park Lady Scotsbasketballteam. Herleadership andtalenton the courthave earned hernumerous honors,including selections to theAll-State, All-Region,and All-Districtteams.Sheisamember of theNationalHonor Society, Junior SymphonyBallsteering committee, andClub72where sheservesasanofficer. Shewas selected to be on thehomecoming courther senior year.Katehas committedtoplaybasketballatthe University of SanDiego next fall.

McCartneyAnn Moncla is the daughterofMattandLaceyMoncla andisasenioratSt. Thomas MoreCatholicHighSchool. She is athree-yearmemberofthe St.ThomasMoreCompetition CheerleadingTeamand was recognized with theUCA PinIt ForwardAward at MastersCamp. Shehas been actively involved in campus ministry forfouryears, servingasanIgniteBible Study leader andasamemberofthe EncounterRetreat team.She also participated in the10,000 Feet Retreat in Colorado.Inaddition, shehas served as aStudent Ambassador fortwo yearsand is an active member of Cougars for Life andCougarCompanions.

SofiaIsabellaElliott is thedaughterof Bill andJoyce Elliottand is aseniorat St.ThomasMoreCatholicHighSchool. Sheisathree-yearrecipient of the Academic Excellence Award, completed allHonorsandAPcourseworkwitha4.0 GPA. Sheisa member of theNational HonorSociety andreceivedthe English IIIHonorsSubject Award, served four yearsonStudentCouncil—threeyearsas aclass representative andcurrently as ExecutiveBoardSecretary.Soﬁaisafouryear Cougar CompetitionCheerleader andinCampusMinistry servingasan EncounterTeamLeader,IgniteBible StudyLeader,LightRetreatLeader,anda memberofHopefestCommittee.Shewas electedtoCougarCourt in 2023 andto theHomecomingCourt in 2025.Soﬁais in Cougarsfor Life,CougarCompanion, Beta Club,CougarAmbassador,and French Club.She also participated in amission trip to Puerto Rico

YvetteLussanOlivier is thedaughter of Jasonand Jennifer Olivier andis asenioratSouthside High School Shemaintains a4.0 GPAand is amemberofthe National Honor Societyduringher junior and senior years. Evie hasservedasa religionteacher at SaintJoseph’s Catholic Church fortwo yearsand is also an active member of the Creative Writing Club

Leah Marie Foreman is thedaughter of Andrew andEmily Foreman andisasenioratSt. Thomas More Catholic High School.She is afouryear member of theCompetition Cheerleading Team,currently servingasteamcaptain.She has been actively involved in campus ministry forfouryears as an Ignite BibleStudy leader andasamember of theEncounter andLight retreat teams. Leah hasalsobeenselected as aHomecomingCourt member andhas participated in Cougars forLifefor threeyears,servedasa Cougar Companionfor threeyears, andrepresented theschoolasa StudentAmbassador for twoyears. Leah is amemberinthe Beta Club andNationalHonor Society, an Academic Lettermanand 4-year Excellence HonorRollrecipient.

JosieKeller Patin is thedaughter of Mark andJoLynnPatin is a senior at St.ThomasMoreCatholic HighSchool. Sheisathree-year member of theCompetition Cheer Squadand aone-yearmemberof theSpiritCheer Squad. Shehas been actively involved in Campus Ministry forfouryears,serving as aleader in Ignite BibleStudy,Light Retreat, andasaQuest Leader, andhas attended 10,000 Feet RetreatinColorado. Shehas also served as aStudent Ambassador forthree yearsand is an engaged memberofCougarCompanionsand Cougars4Life. Josie’sacademic achievements includethe Silver Academic Excellence Awardand theBronzeAcademic Award.

Anna KathrynFremin is thedaughter of Ronald andKatyFreminand is asenioratSt. Thomas More Catholic High School.She is afour-year member of theSt. Thomas More Sparkler Dance Team whilethe team earned six National Championship titles and oneWorld Championship title. Shehas beenactivelyinvolved in campus ministry forfour years, servingasanIgniteBible Studyleaderand as aleaderof theEncounter andLight retreat teams. In addition,AnnaKathryn is an active member of Cougars4 Life,CougarCompanions, andthe StudentAmbassadorprogram

Eleanor Rose Guidry is thedaughter of Neal andAshleyGuidryand is a senior at St.ThomasMoreCatholic High School.She is a2022Cougar Courtmemberand hasearned Academic Excellence recognition for threeyears,along with theTop CatAward andthe Breakfastof ChampionsAward.She is afour-year member of StudentCouncil,serving as Senior Class President, anda four-yearmemberofthe Beta Club. Herleadershipand serviceextend throughfouryears with Cougarsfor Life andfouryears on theVarsity Volleyball Team,where sheserves as the2025TeamCaptain andhas been selected to theAll-LadyCougar Team.Eleanor hasalsobeenactively involved in campus ministry for four yearsand is amemberofthe National HonorSociety

Lauren Ashley Quoyeser is the daughter of John andJackie Quoyeser andisa senior at Saint Thomas More Catholic High School.She serves as Captainof theCougarSpiritCheer Team andhas been amemberofthe Homecoming Court. Atwo-time recipientofthe STMTop Cat Award, Lauren is involved in several campus organizations, includingthe OptionsMentor Club,CampusMinistry Club whereshe also serves as aRetreat Leader—Cougars forLifeClub, andhas been recognized at the BreakfastofChampions twice forher achievements.

Anne Conway Schoeffler is the daughter of Davidand Kelly Schoeffler andisasenioratSt. Thomas More Catholic High School.AnneConwayisamember of theCompetition CheerTeamfor four years. Shehas been actively involved in Campus Ministry, leadingIgniteBible Studyand LightRetreats,and participating in theEncounter Retreat, 10,000 Feet RetreatinColorado,and a missiontriptoPuertoRico. She hasalsobeenhonored as amember of both Homecoming Courtand Cougar Court.

of Victoria

The KreweofVictoria held its 32nd Ball Masque at eight o’clock in the evening on Saturday, January 10,2026 at the Frem Boustany Convention Center.The ladies of The KreweofVictoria celebratedthe joie de vivre, the U.S. Semiquincentennialand MardiGraswith Americathe Beautiful.

Queen Victoria XXXII, Beverly Jane Ruffin

Prince Albert XXXII, Dave Domingue

BeverlyJaneRuffinPrinceAlbert XXXII, Dave Domingue

QueenBeverly Jane Ruffin’sjourneybegan in Frankfurt,Germany, whereshe waslovingly adopted, and eventuallycametoliveinLafayette. Sheattended Louisiana State UniversityinBaton Rougeand Louisiana State UniversityinShreveport. She has Bachelor of Science degreesin both General Businessand Accounting.

Queen Beverly enjoyedadistinguished career working with several esteemed CPAﬁrms acrossmultiple cities before retiring in 2013 from her role with the CityofAlexandria.

Queen Beverly served as Treasurer forseveral community organizations,includingthe Professional Women’s Exchangein Alexandria,the Arts Council of CentralLouisiana,the Alexandria Jaycees,The Junior League of Alexandria andthe Alexandria MardiGras Association.

Shehas been an activeand devotedmemberofthe Junior Leaguefor many years, earning recognition as Alexandria’sSustainer of the Year for 2007-2008 and receiving the prestigiousPresidential Sustainer Awardin Lafayettefor 2022-2023

Queen Beverly joined the KreweofVictoria in 2021 andservedas Duchessin2024representing Grace Kelly at the ball.

HerRoyal Consort,her signiﬁcantother,isMr. Harold “Brother”Poole, Jr.Consort “Brother”retired from 31 yearsasPresidentofOperations for Harold C. Poole Nursery, IncofForestHills,Louisiana

Serving as RoyalAttendants to Queen Beverly were Audrey Claire Arceneaux, daughterofStaff Sgt.Julian Arceneaux andBrianna Brasseaux, granddaughterofDuchessBrittian Billeaud and great granddaughterofQueen Victoria XVIII, Sharon Yeomans.Alsoservingas RoyalAttendants were Kooper Madison and KinsleyMarie Thompson, daughters of Troy and Kendra Thompson, and closefriendsofthe Queen.

Prince Dave Domingue is agraduate of The UniversityofSouthwestern Louisiana with aBachelor of Arts in Psychology. He also attended graduate studies in TheologyatLoyolaUniversity.

Prince Dave worked for35yearsinthe International Center of the LafayetteConsolidatedGovernmentand is currently the Directorof InternationalTrade andDevelopment.

In addition to his professional achievements,PrinceDavewas the foundingmember of anumberoforganizations,includingFreetown DistrictCommission, Choral Acadienne and La Compagnie Louisianaise. He hasperformed with the USLOperaGuild and AbbeyPlayers,and volunteered forFestival International de Louisiana,FestivalsAcadiens et Creoles,and Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. He is the former interim Director of Music forCathedral of St John the Evangelist,the former director of Liturgy forOur Lady of Wisdom Church and the former chairman of Diocesan Worship Commissionfor the Catholic DioseseofLafayette.

Prince Dave is currently aboardmember and secretary forLa Foundation Louisiana andaboardmember for232-HELP

Prince Dave’s activitieswith MardiGrasinclude being aboardmember forthe GreaterSouthwest Louisiana MardiGrasAssociation, aformer board member andsuitemanager for10yearsfor the LafayetteSuiteat the Washington MardiGras, andaformer second-generation member of the KreweofGabriele. Prince Dave also served as aDukefor Kreweof Gabriel in 1989,the KreweofAttakapas in 1994, and the KreweofVictoria in 2013

Prince Dave’s Consortishis long-time friend,Deborah Sprague ConsortMemberDebbie hasbeen aVictoria KreweMember since2004, wasa Duchessin2013, and is currently Treasurer of the Krewe. Sheisa retired C.P.A. andlovestravelling and spending time with family.

QueenVictoriaXXXII–

DuchessBrittianBilleaud represented BetsyRoss

Krewe of Victoria

Members of the2026 Royal Court

RoyalAttendants Kinsley Thompson, Audrey Claire Arceneaux, &KooperThompson

DuchessDr. Janna Flint Wilson representedRosie the Riveter

Valets

Jon Bernard, Karl LeGier, MarkBarton, Gran Andrews, &ChadClement

Duchess Mary Hays represented Lady Liberty

MaverickWest

Kreweof Xanadu

Queen XanaduXXXVI

Queen of Hearts Kimi Hargrave

Lafayette’sLafayette’slargest all women’s krewe, theKrewe of Xanadu, will celebrate awhimsical and magical 2026 “Mad Hatter’s Masquerade” Tableau and Ball on Friday, February 13 at 8pm at the LafayetteCajundome Convention Center.Itwillbeaglamorous glow affair with an evening of luminous wonder and curious delights

TheKrewe of Xanaduproudly announces Queen Xanadu XXXVI, Kimi Hargrave,and King Xanadu XXXVI, Jeff Hargrave,who will reignoverthe 2026 MardiGrasseason and the Krewe’ssignature event, the MadHatter’sMasquerade Ball.

Queen Xanadu XXXVI, KimiHargraveand King Xanadu XXXVI, Jeff Hargrave will reignoverthe 2026Mardi Gras season and Ball. Kimi Hargrave, theXanadu QueenofHearts,isanativeofAcadiana and founder of Cajun Bug Exterminating, LLC.She serves as co-ownerofJKStrategy &Consulting alongside her husband. The royalcouple arethe proudparents of their daughter, Graci Elizabeth Noel Hargrave

Queen Kimi has been an activemember of Xanadu since 2019.In2020, she wasaRoyaltyMusefor theKrewe’s 30thAnnual Ball, joining the celebrated “Pearlie Girls.” Kimi representedthe goddessThaila as a“Hurricane” cocktail forthe “Cheersto 30 Years” Theme. Sheisdeeply involved in community service and professional leadership.Her affiliations include Big BrothersBig Sisters,Love INC,One Acadiana,the AcadianaPest ControlAssociation

(APCA), and theLouisianaPest ManagementAssociation (LPMA). She is aPast PresidentofAPCA and currently serves as Treasurer forbothAPCA and LPMA. Sheisacharter member of Professional Women in Pest Management(PWIPM), Louisiana Chapter.Queen Kimi believesthe Kreweexempliﬁes thestrength of women in asocial setting, a sentimentreﬂected in her favoritequote, “Dazzle with Excellence.”

AnativeofAcadiana,King Jeff Hargrave,the Xanadu King of Hearts, is thefounder of Cajun Bug Exterminating, LLCand serves as an Operations Consultantfor Stark Exterminators.Heisalsothe co-owner of JK Strategy &Consulting. Jeff is an Associate CertiﬁedEntomologist, oneofonly 18 in the state of Louisiana,and serves on numerous organizational boards.Heisthe PresidentofLIPCA,Inc., Louisiana’spest controloperator–owned insurance company. Recently,hewas selected by theNational Pest ManagementAssociation to representLoui-

KreweofXanadu Celebrates Its “MadHatter’s Masquerade”

King XanaduXXXVI

King of Hearts

Jeff Hargrave

siana on the SPAR LegislativeCommittee. Jeff has served as Past Presidentand Treasurer of the Louisiana Pest ManagementAssociation, as well as Past Presidentofthe Acadiana Pest ControlAssociation. King Jeff washonored withthe prestigiousPaul K. Adams Award, recognizing exceptionalcontributions to the Louisiana Pest ManagementAssociation andthe pestcontrol industry statewide Danielle Anthaume KeyserservesasCaptain forthe KreweofXanadu’s 2025/2026Mardi Gras season. The theme,Mad Hatter’s Masquerade, reﬂects Danielle’sloveofwhimsical, eccentric,and lighthearted fun. Danielle is anativeofLafayette and is married to herhigh school sweetheart of 27 years, Kevin Louis Keyser. Theyhavetwo beautifuldaughters,Madison and Mackenzie,who are both attending LSU.Danielle is an Occupational Therapist of 25 years, specializing in geriatrics and working in skilled nursing facilities and home health. Shehas served as Presidentofthe Louisiana Occupational TherapyAssociation, enjoys lecturingatuniversities,and is aﬁerce advocate forher profession. Danielle joinedthe KreweofXanadu in 2009.She wasaMusein2015onthe PrincessEver After Court and is oftenheardsaying “Lifeisshort, live it to the fullest, and makeitSPARKLE!

Established in 1990,the KreweofXanadu is basedonthe GreekGod Zeus,the Goddess of Memories,Mnemosyne and their daughters,the nine muses.Xanadu’s RoyalCourtmembers represent theseMuses

Jeff Hargrave King Xanadu XXXVI King of Hearts

Kimi Hargrave Queen Xanadu XXXVI Queen of Hearts

TheEnchanted Hearts Court

SusanDoucet Alice

Danielle Keyser Xanadu Captain Mad Hatter

Jeff Hargrave King XanaduXXXVI King of Hearts

Danielle Keyser Xanadu Captain Mad Hatter

Kimi Hargrave Queen Xanadu XXXVI Queen of Hearts

Debbie Olivier TheDormouse

Kristy Sturm Chess Piece

Denise Durel Shattered Looking Glass

Kayla Gaudet Blue Caterpillar

TiffanyCollette Pink Rabbit

Donna Olivier Wildflower Enchantress

VeeBernis-Cazelot CheshireCat

in the History of Lafayette’sMardi Gras celebration

1869:Firstrecorded MardiGrasobservance in Lafayette

1896:First city-wide celebration

1897:KingAttakapas arrivesinLafayetteonaSouthern Paciﬁc locomotive (tradition remains through 1961)

1897:Firstparade and ball areheld

1926:Krewe of Oberon is formedand city-wide celebrations resume.

1927:First LafayetteHighSchool Carnival andﬁrstAmerican Legion parade

1934:Civic leadersform the GreaterSouthwest Louisiana MardiGrasAssociation to coordinate andpromote annualMardi Gras celebrations.

1934:KingGabriel and Queen Evangeline become the official names forLafayette’s MardiGrasRoyalty

1942:MardiGrascelebrations suspended during duration of WWII

1948:Annual MardiGrascelebrations return to Lafayette

1949:Krewe of Gabriel is formedtoassistGreater Southwest promoteLafayette’s MardiGrascelebration.

1965:First Tuesdaynightparadehonoring the Queen Evangeline

1970:TuesdaynightQueen’sparademovedtoMonday night

1986:Saturdaynightparade added with the KreweofBonaparte.

1987:Firstparade thatphysically ranthroughthe Cajun Dome.

1990:Saturdayafternoon parade added with the “Children’sParade”

1993:Parade routeextended to run throughCajun Field

1993:“Le Festival de MardiGrasaLafayette”, a“familyfriendly” atmosphere with games, carnival rides,Cajun food andlivemusic wasformedatCajun Field

1998:Fridaynight“Kick-Off Parade” added

2005:Parades expanded again with the addition of the KreweofCarnivaleenRio parade

The Scott BusinessAssociation celebratedits twenty-ninth annualMardi Gras Ball on January 10,2026,atthe ScottEvent Center.The theme forthe ball was “Zydeco Vibrations”.The Event Center wasadorned in an elegant displayof colorsofblack, red, and gold.

Entertainment wasprovided by dancersfromSugar and Spice Dance Academy, and court jesters were Kinley Lopezand Lillian Gary Reigning overthe festivities wasKing Alexander XXIX PatBordes II and Queen Olivia XXIX Cynthia D. Labiche. Patisthe sonofPat and Loretta Bordes and married to Jessica. Theyhaveone daughter, Shelby, and alateson Trey Patattended RayneHigh School and the UniversityofSouthwestern Louisiana He is State Certiﬁed in the Food Safety Program.Pat is co-owner of Fezzo’s Seafood and Steakhouse(all 3locations), A&SSeafood,Rochetto’s Pizzeria(both locations),Threads AClothing Boutique along with severalother holdings.

He is very active in the community serving on many boards.Just to name afew:One Acadiana,Kiwanis Club of Scott, SBA, Rayne Frog Festival Grand Marshal (2024),Rayne and Crowley Chamber of Commerce, and Louisiana RestaurantAssociation-Acadiana Chapter.Inhis sparetime Patenjoys attending livesporting events or watching themontelevision.

Cynthia wasborn in Rayne and raised

Scott Business Association Celebrates

VZydecoibrations

in Duson. She is the daughterofPatrick and Betty Dugas. She is married to King Alexander6th Joey and hasone daughter, Torieand soninlaw Talon along withtreasured fur babyMaverick. She is agraduate of Acadiana High School and obtained her Bachelorof Science in Nursing Degree from the UniversityofSouthwestern Louisiana. She obtained her Master’s Degree in nursing from theUniversityofSouth Alabama.Cynthia is aregistered nurse as aPsychiatric Mental Health Practitioner forbothadults andfamily

Cynthia is the ownerofLocal Psych Servies in Scottand doescontract work forNew Iberia Comprehensive

CommunityHealthCenter. She is amember of theAmericanNurses Association and American Association of NursePractitioners. She hasbeen along-term member of the SBA. She enjoys vacations withher familyand her pet,shopping,and crafting in herspare time.

MissScottAddison LeeDuplantis served as royalMaid. She is thedaughter of Cole and LauraDuplantis.Addison is aSenior at Acadiana High,where she is amember of the FutureFarmersof Americaand theStudentCouncil. She hasbeen dancing at Gerami Academy of Fine Arts for15years. She plans to attend theUniversityofLouisiana

at Lafayettefor pre-dental hygienist, then completing the programatthe University of Louisiana at Monroe. In her sparetime, she enjoys hunting with her Dad and hanging out with friends Ronnie Duplantisservedasroyal Duke. Ronnie is the grandfather of Addison. He is agraduate of Rayne High School and co-founded Service Machine &Supply. His passioniscollecting sports memorabilia and spending time withhis family.

Junior Miss Scott Blakelyn Jade Thibodeaux alsoservedasamaid. Sheisthe daughterofMeagan Savoie and the late BlakeThibodeaux. She is aSophomoreatDavid Thibodeaux Stem Magnet Academyenrolled in the biomedprogram. Sheplans to attend theUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette to become aregistered nurse.Her spare time is spentwithfriends and attending Crossroads Church.

Damon Rae’Leger served as Royal Duke. He is the stepfathertoBlakelyn. He is agraduate of Comeaux High School. Damon is self-employed in residential and commercial construction. He enjoys cooking and spending time withfamily.

Beforebreaking into full partymode, special entertainmentwas provided by Chubby Carriere.

The reigning royaltyjoined in atoast withthe crowd theneveryone was invited to party the nightaway.

JoiedeVie and Allon Dasanse!!!!

King Alexander XXIX PatBordesII

Junior Miss ScottBlakelyn Thibodeaux DukeDamon Lager

Miss ScottAddison Duplantis DukeRonnie James Duplantis

Queen Olivia XXIX

Cynthia D. Labiche

Coronation Ball LIII 2026

TheKreweofBonapartewillcelebrateits53rdyearMondaynightwithaRoyalCourtofelevenandmore than 1,500members. Ledbytheir CaptainLeMarquis de Lafayette, Mr.Gregory Paul Geoffroyand honoring King Napoleon XLIX andQueen JosephineXLIX, Mr.and Mrs. DouglasJames Comeaux, theywilldazzleand dancethe nightawayasistheir LundiGrastradition.Empress JosephineXLIXisthe former Rachel Dias.Royal Maidsinclude MelissaMaeker, Pamela AnnGrace,Tia Carlos Castille,and Beth Ratcliff Deloach. RoyalDukes areBrandon EbnerBreaux, Evan Drew Saterﬁel,Christopher Joseph Bordes, andChristopher Paul Rader.

Othernotable dignitariesbeing introduced Mondaynight willinclude the Krewe’sPresident,LePremier,Brady “Fig”Bell, andhis wife,AshleyJohnson Bell,thePresidentoftheGreaterSouthwestLouisianaMardiGrasAssociation, ChrisPaulVillemaretteand hiswife, StaciKnox Villemarette,the maidsand dukesofthe GreaterSouthwest LouisianaMardi Gras Association, andKing GabrielLXXXVII,JohnWesleyBordelonand QueenEvangelineLXXXVII, Lily Claire Hutchison.

In addition to thecoronationball, theKreweofBonaparte celebrates Mardi GrasthroughouttheyearwithmultiplesocialeventsincludingaNewMember Social,aFallCocktailParty,afamilyChristmaseventattheﬂoatdenfeaturing avisitfromSanta,aPre-ParadeParty,theSaturdayNightParade,MardiGras Family DayGardenParty,and aKreweﬁshBoil.

TheKrewe entertainedLafayette with anotheroutstanding parade on Saturday nightwith1,017 ridersand 31 ﬂoats…ourlargest number of riders to date!Tomorrownight thecoronationballwillbeheldatthe Cajundome Convention Center andwillinclude atableau directed by RebeccaLandry, andmusic provided by Parade Route. Thestage androyal costumes have been designed by TedViatorand constructedbyViatorand Associates,Inc., Karen Guidry,and Cheryl Nevils.

Ebner Breaux

JosephBordes

King Napoleon XLIX

Douglas James Comeaux

EmpressJosephine XLIX

RachelDias Comeaux

RoyalMaid

TiaCarlosCastille

RoyalMaid

Beth Ratcliff Deloach

RoyalMaid Melissa Maeker

RoyalMaid

Pamela AnnGrace

Christopher Paul Rader

Captain

Gregory Paul Geoffroy

LOUISIANA

Getting 7,000 steps a day is a great way to lose weight and reduce risks of premature death cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and even neurological diseases such as dementia, according to Lisa Abramson a certified personal trainer at Ochsner Fitness Center New Orleans.

Rethink Lent

Experts offer 5 ways to kick-start health goals after Mardi Gras

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Many Louisianans tend to bypass the optimism of New Year’s resolutions with their sights set on something more true to their roots — Lent

After all, why begin new health goals when Mardi Gras is just beginning? Catholic or not, Lent offers a unique time in the year to kick-start health goals. Forty days of renewing 2026

resolutions or kick-starting a health journey or improving personally with a “winter arc” doesn’t sound too bad, right?

“Just get started,” said Lisa Abramson, a certiﬁed personal trainer at Ochsner Fitness Center New Orleans.

Although often touted as an opportunity for Catholics to make sacriﬁces and give something up, the Lenten season is an opportunity to get healthier

Limiting time on phones and devices and giving up desserts are common enough, but some goals need more focus and planning.

Here are tips to get started:

Define ‘wellness,’ start small Kristina Schuldt is a family medicine physician and wellness director for about 14,000 employees of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota.

“Wellness means different things to

people. There’s fitness and physical wellness, but there’s also mental wellness, ﬁnancial wellness, spiritual wellness,” she said. “A person should deﬁne what their wellness goal is.”

n Don’t take on the entire wellness universe at once, she warned. Start with small steps.

n Increase water intake, for example, using a bottle or jug big enough to hold

ä See LENT, page 2X

HEALTH NOTES

Link between wildfire smoke exposure, autism studied

Tulane study finds higher risk in children when mother exposed late in pregnancy

BY MARGARET DELANEY

Staff writer

A study led by Tulane University found that children whose mothers were exposed to wildﬁre smoke during the third trimester had a higher risk of being diagnosed with autism before the age of 5. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, analyzed more than 200,000 births in Southern California from 2006 to 2014.

In mothers exposed to more than 10 days of wildfire smoke during the final three months of pregnancy, children had a 23% higher risk of autism diagnoses compared to those whose mothers were never exposed to smoke from wildfires during pregnancy

OLOL does La.’s 1st single-port transabdominal colorectal surgery

Dr Asif Talukder performed the ﬁrst successful single-port transabdominal colorectal surgery, an advanced robotic technique, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge in February.

The procedure is minimally invasive — with only one incision less than two inches in length — and reduces trauma to surrounding

BEYOND THE SCALE

tissue, minimizes pain and “supports shorter recovery times compared to traditional multiincision surgery,” according to the Lake.

The ﬁrst single port robotic case in the state was quickly followed by the second, which Talukder performed the same day

Pennington doctor receives $3.7 million grant for study

Dr Candida Rebello secured $3.7 million in a ﬁve-year federal grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging to study “lifestyle-focused care strategies” to reduce excess body fat and declining muscle mass in adults over the age of 50

ä See HEALTH NOTES, page 3X

GETTy IMAGES PHOTO

HEALTH MAKER

La. doctor says hypnosis can help with abdominal pain

BY RACHEL MIPRO

Contributing writer

Dr Amanda Glinky, a gastroenterology hepatology and nutrition specialist at Manning Family Children’s New Orleans, discussed the efﬁcacy of hypnosis, and how she incorporates it in her practice.

What sparked your interest in hypnosis?

I started my training journey in clinical hypnosis in the early summer of 2022 There were some pretty compelling studies that were coming out about the use of hypnosis for the treatment of abdominal pain from sensitive nerves, so things like irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. And so I knew that I wanted it to be a tool that I could have to teach my patients who struggle with those conditions.

The kind of hypnosis that I teach is self-hypnosis, and so I teach kids how to enter into a state of focused attention, which is kind of the cornerstone of hypnosis, using exercises with focusing on breathing, sometimes it is with counting. To kind of

practice going into that part of your brain, to feel more comfortable in your body and to feel more powerful over abdominal pain and nausea

I teach patients how to enter that state of focused attention, to feel better over their symptoms. It can be for cooperative children as young as

8, and then all the way up into teenagers. Think about it like a skill. I just teach them the skill and encourage them to practice on their own.

Study reveals infants’ complex visual processing

Research shows earlier cognitive development insights

BY LAURA UNGAR AP medical writer

A new study suggests that babies are able to distinguish between the different objects they see around them at 2 months old, which is earlier than scientists previously thought.

The findings, published Monday in Nature Neuroscience, may help doctors and researchers better understand cognitive development in infancy

“It really tells us that infants are interacting with the world in a lot more complex of a way than we might imagine,” said lead author Cliona O’Doherty “Looking at a 2-month-old, we maybe wouldn’t think that they’re understanding the world to that level.”

The study looked at data from 130 2-month-olds who underwent brain scans while awake. The babies viewed images from a dozen categories commonly seen in the first year of life, such as trees and animals. When babies looked at an image like a cat, their brains might “fire” a certain way that researchers could record, O’Doherty said. If they looked at an inanimate object, their brains would fire differently The technique known as functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI allowed scientists to examine visual function more precisely than in the past. Many previous studies relied on how long an infant looked at an object, which can be difficult to assess at

youngerages Someofthose past studies suggested that infants as young as 3 to 4 months could distinguish between categories such as animals and furniture

“What we’re showing is that they really already have this ability to group together categories at 2 months,” O’Doherty said. “So it’s something much more complex than we would’ve thought before.”

In the new study many of the babies returned at 9 months, and researchers successfully collected data from 66 of them. In the 9-month-olds, the brain was able to distinguish living things from inanimate objects much more strongly than in the 2-month-olds, O’Doherty said. Someday, researchers said, scientists may be able to connect such brain imaging to cognitive outcomes later in life

Liuba Papeo, a neuroscientist at the National Center for Scientiﬁc Research in France, said the number of babies in the study is one thing that makes the work “impressive and unique.”

Brain imaging with very young infants presents challenges

“One perhaps the most obvious — is that the infant needs to (lie) comfortably in the fMRI scanner while awake without moving,” she said in an email.

O’Doherty, who did the work at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, said the key was making the experience as comfortable as possible for the babies Inside the scanner, they reclined on a bean bag so they were snug. The images “appear really big above them while they’re lying down,” she said. “It’s like IMAX for babies.

Continued from page 1X

a day’s worth, with markings on the side to let you see how much you drink.

n If quitting smoking is the goal, cut down by one cigarette until it feels comfortable, then do the same thing again and again.

n That goes for getting your steps in, too. If you’re not used to long walks, start with a few blocks and increase by two every week.

“Revamping an entire diet is not realistic,” said Allie Foreman, a nutrition specialist for Ochsner’s Eat Fit Baton Rouge program “You’re more likely to get burned out, and it’s not sustainable.”

Plan ahead

Although it is tempting, waiting until Ash Wednesday to begin thinking about health goals and what to do for Lent can be stressful and lead to confusing goals that are hard to accomplish.

Creating specific plans helps to cut down on the mental energy along the way and makes the process of achieving goals as painless and easy as possible.

Selecting goals must be personal, according to Abramson, and not for the beneﬁts of others or trends or what people think.

“You have to have reasons to do it for yourself, not for anybody else,” Abramson said.

Each goal requires different parameters to achieve. Identifying the best types of goal will help to clarify the next planning stages.

For example, have appealing and accessible alternatives to cutting down on sugar caffeine or screen time may help make the goal achievable along the way

“We all have 10 minutes,” Abramson said A good plan, she added, follows the acronym FEEL: “It’s fast, it’s enjoyable, it’s effective and there’s longevity.”

Being consistent is key to building habits that will last the entire 40 days of Lent. That might mean mindful breathing, followed by a few minutes of stretching and a 10-minute workout in the morning. Or it could be a new approach to breakfast, or a rethink on the crush of daily responsibilities

Workout buddies matter

Even with countless studies on how exercise improves the health of our bodies, minds, and quality of life, 75% of people don’t get enough physical activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Daniel Lieberman a Harvard paleoanthropologist

Is hypnosis a common technique among doctors in general, or is it a newer technique? I wouldn’t say that it’s very uncommon. I would say that it has gained ground, especially in recent years, as being a more mainstream and accepted treatment, particularly for IBS and functional abdominal pain. There were some guidelines released in 2025 by the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

These are the big governing bodies in terms of the management of pediatric GIs across North America and Europe. They afﬁrmed a high recommendation for using hypnosis to treat abdominal pain, IBS and functional abdominal pain, even over a lot of medications which are more commonly used. So the 2025 guidelines reafﬁrmed that hypnosis is an acceptable and evidence based option for the treatment of these conditions now Is hypnosis paired with other treatment or is it effective on its

own?

I always pair the hypnosis recommendation with dietary and lifestyle modiﬁcation to support treating those conditions, talking about sleep and stress management. I think you have to treat the whole patient. How long does each session take?

Sessions can be anywhere from ﬁve to 15 minutes. When patients practice at home, they can practice in session lengths of their choosing. I recommend that they create a schedule and that they try to adhere to the schedule, so that it really does become a practice that is second nature. Just like any other muscle, the more that you practice, the stronger it is and the easier it is to use.

I can’t emphasize enough that there is a high quality of evidence for using hypnosis and that it really is a valid and scientiﬁcally proven method for the treatment of abdominal pain. We are taking it out of the stage act and more into actual real life to be a really powerful tool that people can use for themselves.

and author of “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding,” said the “buddy system” is the best way to motivate anyone to do a workout routine regularly

Canceling a 6 a.m. workout is different when a friend is waiting for you to show up.

Lieberman’s research shows that humans have major biological and cultural incentives to avoid exercise. That’s because historically, it was important for survival to avoid expending unnecessary energy

“For the vast majority of us, it’s hard to exercise and we all have deep fundamental instincts to avoid unnecessary activity,” Lieberman said in his book.

To motivate friends and family, try scheduling a daily walk after dinner or a standing weekly workout class at a studio near Taking a walk

Don’t fall for whatever wellness trend is making the rounds — except maybe walking.

Getting 7,000 steps a day is a great way to lose weight and reduce risks of premature death, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and even neurological diseases

such as dementia, according to Abramson.

“There’s a lot of good reasons that would motivate somebody to want to start walking,” Abramson said.

Walking can help de-stress the body and kick-start the digestive system if taken after meals. Walking is low intensity compared to other cardio options like running or biking. If looking for an extra challenge, rucking or carrying extra weights on the wrists or in vests can help add extra weight and workout to walking.

Find people to support you

While starting a new, healthy diet sounds like a simple task, many people get stumped on how to create dishes that fit the bill.

Getting away from easy, comfort meals is a common hurdle for at-home health seekers.

Hosting a healthy recipes party can shine a light on new recipes and also build a supportive group of healthy eaters. Try out new healthy dishes like fun salads and vegetable sides with friends and family on a Friday (for Catholics adhering to a meatless day).

Foreman works with restaurants to connect them with healthy options and

modifications — replacing some items with whole grains, liming saturated fats and increasing proteins on the menu. The hospital-sponsored program also is hosting its 11th annual alcohol free for 40 days challenge. The program, at $65 per person with taxes, includes a Facebook group to ask questions, create new mocktail recipes and share experiences; tracking health metrics like weight, blood pressure and close-up photos of the face; and pre- and post-challenge blood work to compare inﬂammation, liver health and alcohol toxicity in the body

“During the 40 days, we found that people report better sleep and having more energy to do things like go for a walk after dinner or to spend time with friends,” Foreman said. “(Without alcohol,) energy levels are more steady throughout the day better mental clarity and ability to focus.”

Although registration for the program ends Feb 16, the alcohol-free program’s Facebook group is open to all who want to join the challenge.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED By FRANK L AyMAMI III

Dr Amanda Glinky, a gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition specialist at Manning Family Children’s New Orleans, uses hypnosis as a tool in her practice.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING

Kane Hurst, 8, left, tries to keep pace doing pushups with his fitness enthusiast dad Lawrence Hurst, right, in the workout area at BREC’s Highland Road Park on April 12, 2022. Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard paleoanthropologist and author of ‘Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding,’ said the ‘buddy system’ is the best way to motivate anyone to do a workout routine regularly

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Allie Foreman, a nutrition specialist for Ochsner’s Eat Fit Baton Rouge program, works with restaurants to connect them with healthy options and modifications.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Baby Blaise gets ready for her 9-month Foundcog brain scan with her mother, Mary, at Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience in Dublin, Ireland.

Eat Fit LiveFit

MThehidden costsofdrinking: Howalcohol really affectsyourbody and mind

ostofusweretaught tothinkofalcohol insimpleterms: moderationisﬁne,excessisthe problem.ButthedeeperI’ve goneintothesciencethrough yearsofclientwork,reviewing datafromAlcoholFreefor 40andinterviewingexperts, thecleareritbecomesthat alcohol’simpactisgreaterand moreimmediatethanmanyof usrealize.

Irecentlyhadthe opportunitytointerview alcoholresearcherMegan Strowger,PhD,formypodcast, FUELEDWellness+Nutrition.

Dr.Strowger’spostdoctoral workattheUniversityat Buffalo’sAlcoholResearchLab focusesonhowculturalcues andsocialmediashapeour drinkinghabits

“Weoftenthinkwe’remaking independentdecisionsaboutdrinking,” saidDr.Strowger.“We’reconstantlybeing subtlyinﬂuencedbywhatweseeinreal lifeandonsocialmedia.”

AlcoholandtheNervousSystem

“Ididn’trealizealcoholwasactually worseningmyanxietyuntilIstopped drinking.”It’soneofthemostcommon thingswehearfromAlcoholFreefor 40participants

Itseemscounterintuitive,butit’s true:Alcoholinitiallyincreasescalming neurotransmittersinourbrain,whichis whyitcanfeelrelaxinginthemoment Butasourbodymetabolizesalcohol, thenervoussystemreboundsinthe oppositedirection.Stresshormones rise.Heartrateincreases.Sleep becomesmorefragmented.Formany, theresultisnext-dayanxietyanda sensethatsomethingfeelsalittleoff

Overtime,thiscancreateand perpetuateatoxiccycleoffeelinganxious thedayafterwedrink,sowebegintorely moreonalcoholtorelax—eventhough alcoholitselfisakeypartofwhat’sdriving theanxietyintheﬁrstplace

TheRippleEffects

Theeffectsofalcoholextendfarbeyond thebrain.Itdisruptsgutbacteriaandthe balanceofthemicrobiome.Itinterferes withbloodsugarregulation,whichcan contributetoenergycrashes,cravings andtheup-and-downrollercoastermany

peopleexperiencethroughout theday.Itincreaseswhole-body inﬂammationandaltershowour bodymetabolizesfuel,often prioritizingalcoholoverfatburning

Manypeoplenoticevisiblechanges whentheycutbackorstopdrinking likelessfacialpuffiness,reduced bloatingorclearerskin.Othersnotice changesthatshowupindailylife suchassteadierenergy,improved concentration,feweremotional spikesandamoreconsistentmood.

“Givingupalcoholforawindowof timeisanopportunitytohitthereset button,”saidDr.Strowger.“People personallyexperiencehowabreak fromdrinkingaffectssomanyaspects oftheirwellbeing,insideandout.”

EvenShort-TermAbstinence CanShiftHabits

Dr.Strowgerrecentlyleda2025 scopingreviewofDryJanuaryresearch publishedinthejournalAlcoholand Alcoholism.Acrossmultiplestudies participantswhocompletedamonth ofabstinenceshowedimprovementsin biologicalmarkers,mentalwell-being andaconceptresearcherscall“drink refusalself-efficacy,”whichreferstoone’s conﬁdenceindecliningalcoholinsocial situations.

“Oneofthemostcompellingﬁndings wastheincreaseinconﬁdencetorefusea drinkinsocialsettings.Inaculturewhere

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonproﬁtinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

socialpressuretodrinkissopervasive, thatshiftissigniﬁcant.”

Evenparticipantswhodidn’tremain fullyabstinentshowedimprovementsin mentalwell-beingmonthslater.Thisisstill important,asitreframestheexperienceas progressratherthanperfection.

TheRoleofEnvironment andMedia

Dr.Strowger’sresearchalsoexamines howalcohol-relatedcontentonsocial mediainﬂuencesreal-worldbehavior.A cocktailreel.Abrunchmimosapost.A lifestyleinﬂuencerframingdrinkingas relaxationorevenself-care.Thesecues shapetheperceptionofwhat’snormal, oftenwithoutpeoplerealizingit.

Her work looksatwhathappensin the moments afterpeople encounter alcohol-related content.The effectisn’t always conscious, butthe behavioral inﬂuence is signiﬁcant.

Atthesametime,she’sseenthe oppositeeffectwhenpeopleintentionally changetheirenvironment.Asherown socialmediafeedshiftedtowardmore alcohol-freecontent,itreinforcedher decisiontostopdrinking.Thecuesaround herchanged,andthebehaviorbecame easiertomaintain.

WhyThisMatters

Alcoholaffectsoursleep,anxiety, metabolism,inﬂammation,cognitionand more.Thedegreevariesbyperson,dose andpattern—buttheimpactisreal. Ifyou’veeverwonderedhowalcohol

BY THENUMBERS

LA.RANKS 2NDFOR SENIORS WITH COGNITIVEDECLINE IN U.S.

In 2023, 9.8% of Louisianaseniors over the ageof65reported having difficulty remembering,concentrating or making decisions.That’shigher than theU.S.averageat7.9%.

Cognitiveimpairment limits older adults’ ability to agein place independently.Family,friends and other unpaid caregiversoften bear theresponsibility of providingdaily assistance and emotionalsupport to older adults with severe cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s, the most common formofdementia.

As the 65 and older population increases, the number of older adults living with Alzheimer’sdisease in the United States is projected to reach 13.8 million by 2060.

Several conditions contribute to cognitiveimpairment,including

HEALTH NOTES

Continued from page1X

with obesity

The clinical trial, at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in BatonRouge, will bea 12week trial involving 80 adults overthe age of 50. Participants will be assigned to two different dietarygroup, and all participants will be required to complete 150 minutes perweek of supervised aerobicand resistance exercise. Baton Rouge cancer center offers outpatient CAR-T-cell therapy

The Mary Bird Perkins CancerCenter announcedanoutpatientservicefor patients with select blood cancers in their CAR T-cell therapy program, atreatmenttherapy thatgenetically engineers apatient’sown white blood cells to recognize, target and destroycancer cells. While other programs in the state offer inpa-

metabolic or endocrine dysfunction, Alzheimer’sand other dementias, and treatable health issues like medication side effectsand depression.While people can experience cognitiveimpairment at anystageinlife, ageisthe greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s

These states had thehighest percentageofadultsover65with cognitivedifficulty,indescending order: n Mississippi at 10.1%, n Louisiana at 9.8%, n NewMexico at 9.6%, n Alabama at 9.5%, n Hawaii at 9.4%, n Kentucky and Oklahomaat9.2%, n Oregon at 9%, n Arkansas, California and West Virginia at 8.9%

These states had thelowest

AlcoholFreefor40registration closesSunday,February15,at midnight;fulldetailsandlinkto signupatAlcoholFreeFor40.com.

Seniorswithcognitive declineinAmerica

Percentage of adults age65and older whoreportedhaving diffi

NewOrleans hosts national summit for lung cancer

Source:U.S.CensusBureau

percentageofadultsover65with cognitivedifficulty,inascending order: n North Dakota at 5.4%, n Iowa and Wisconsin at 5.6%, n NewHampshire and Vermont at 5.7%, n Nebraska at 5.8%, n South Dakota at 6.2%, n Colorado and Minnesota at 6.4%, n Wyoming at 6.6%.

tientCAR-T-cell therapy(astay in thehospital), Mary Bird is theﬁrst in the regiontooffer treatment in an outpatient setting. Patientscan receivetreatment during the day and thenhead home,according to Mary Bird.

The third annualAfrican American Lung Cancer Patient &Caregiver Summit in New Orleans is set for April 23-25 at the Marriott Warehouse Arts District. The weekend-long event will focus on “survivorship, emerging treatments, clinical trials, environmental and clean-air justice, public policy, AI in care, mental wellness, ﬁnancial navigation, caregiver supportand patient advocacy The eventisfree for lung cancer patientsand caregiversand includes meals, hotel accommodations and travel and learning materials.

Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney@theadvocate.com.

BRO UGH TT OY OU BY

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Your comeback starts here

Alex’sreturntotheﬁeldwasfarfromordinary.SupportedbyOchsner LafayetteGeneral’seliteorthopediccare—fromDr.BrianEtier’ssurgical expertisetoperformance-focusedtherapy—hesteppedbackundercenter withconﬁdence.Thisseason,heledTeurlingsCatholicHighSchoolto11 winsandprovedhe’soneofthestate’sbestplayers.

Learnmoreorscheduleanappointmentatochsner.org/lafayetteortho

AlexM. | KneeSurgeryPatient

LOUISIANA

TreBishop, left, chatswith fellowLouisiana Legislativeyouth AdvisoryCouncil members on Nov. 22 after thecouncil meeting at theEastBaton RougeParish Library’sdowntown branch.

‘We’re asking forsolutions’

Louisianateens are making

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

On arecent January afternoon, 25 well-dressed teenagers gathered together for theirLouisianaLegislative Youth AdvisoryCouncil meeting at the Centerfor Coastal &DeltaicSolutions on River Road in Baton Rouge. Before the meeting began, theteenagers satatconference tables looking out over the Mississippi River At the sound of the gavel, the conversationsabout college acceptances, scholarship offers and honors programs ceased. The teenage delegates straightened their shoulders —and ties —and got down to business.

TreBishop, an Ascension Episcopal senior from Lafayetteand the president of this year’s council, calledthe meeting to order and confirmed aquorum was presentinorder to conductnew business. He introduced the speakers for the meeting, including St. Charles Parish School Superintendent Ken Oertling,who would be speaking on theparish’s strides in school safety. Bishop was already involvedwithpresentinga bill that became law.Fiveyears ago, he presented abill toencourage the local collection and recycling of campaign signstothe House Natural Resources and Environment committee. Thebillwas unanimously passed throughboth legislative chambers and signed into law June 2021. Since then,Bishophas continued to advocate and work on recycling campaign signs by sendingletters to politicians, settinguprecycling stations in Acadiana and collecting signs when he can. For him, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council

JanRisher

When faithruns thin,we canborrow alittle

Like clockwork, our younger daughter calls at 6:30 mostevenings as she makes the 25-minute drive from the high school where she teaches back to her Denver apartment. So when 6:40 p.m.came and went on Tuesday without acall, Iwondered what was up and dialed her number instead. She answered with ashaky voice and said she was with another teacher.Could she call me back in afew minutes?

When she did, the ﬂoodgates opened. She echoed achildhood favorite —“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”Inher words, it had been exactly that.

alegislative

impact

was another waytodirectly impact laws in the state and gaincrucial experience as he pursues political aspirations. Through his experiences with the council, he noted that many people think thatteenagers can’tdomuch about solvingproblems, but he says there are kids who are voicing their issues and finding solutions. “We’re asking for solutions on thingsthat are not just affecting us, but every other student,” Bishop said. “I’m so glad that kids are coming together and they are ready to take that step instead of just sitting on the sidelines.”

The 31 members of the Louisiana Legislative Advisory Council are in no way sitting on the sidelines. They eagerly want to make change in their communities and state,somuch so that they have committed themselves to ayear of service to work with state legislators on behalf of fellow Louisiana teenagers. “I’mgonna work to make (Louisiana) better for thekids of our state,” Bishop said. Christian Knight, asenior from Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, agreed that working to resolve issuesfaced by Louisiana

adolescentsmotivated him to apply for Louisiana Youth AdvisoryCouncil. MeganBella,a Louisiana Senate staff member and the Legislative Youth Advisory Council coordinator,has been working withstudent membersofthe councilsince 2017. She haswatched many teenagers grow andgain leadershipexperience. Their excitement is contagious, she said, andthey havesomany varied ideasabout what they want to accomplish. The council has someideas like expanding testing for

See IMPACT, page 2Y

Astudent she had gone out of her waytohelp —one she had advocated for—had blownupat her in class. The exchange left her embarrassed and rattled, and at 24, she is still young enough in her profession to feel she has something to prove to everyone in the room Iwas slow to learn that listening is often the mostuseful thing a parent can offer,soI listened for awhile before saying much. About 30 minutes into the call, she said quietly,“This feels too hard.”

This is achild whohas faced hard questions mostofher life. We adopted her from China when she was11months old, and since middle school, she has tried to understand the complicated story of how we came to be afamily

She’snot one to look away from difﬁcult things.

But having once been ateacher myself,I didn’tpush back on the hard she was feeling. Somekinds of hard must be acknowledged before they can be carried, and a tough day in teaching is that kind of hard.

Ireminded her that asingle day does not deﬁne her as ateacher

We talked about the difference between the hard that comes from learning and the hard that comes from being unsupported. We talked about how doing difﬁcult things makes us better versions of ourselves —that teaching has away of enlarging us, even when, at times, we would very much prefer to stay the same size.

Nothing Isaid seemed to make much of adifference.

Then she said, “I’m just waiting forafaith-in-humanity moment.” There wasatime, not so very long ago, when she was the one looking to the adults in her life forsteadiness. Now here she was —ayoung woman responsible forsteadying aclassroom —and admitting that her own reserves were running low

Even so, the fact that she was still hoping forsuch amoment wasreassuring to me. Even knowing she washurting, Ifelt relieved —even hopeful —tohear what she was waiting for. Cynicism would have been easier,but she hadn’tchosen it.

So Itold her that she reminded me that on my better days, I’m full of faith in humanity,even in these turbulent times —and on the harder days, Itry to ﬁnd reasons to be hopeful in others, including her So,ondayswhenfaith in humanity feels thin, Isaid, “You can borrowmine until yours reﬁlls.”

Beija Lopes-Morgan, right, speaks to Louisiana Legislativeyouth AdvisoryCouncil members duringthe Nov. 22 council meeting

INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Louisiana art collector featured in new PBS series

BR native discusses global storytelling traditions

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

Jeremy Simien, a Baton Rouge native, is an art collector, historian and cultural preservationist whose work focuses on uncovering overlooked histories in American and Louisiana material culture. A ninth-generation Louisiana Creole, his research centers on the visual record of multiracial communities, enslavement and identity in the 18th and 19th centuries. Simien’s work includes the rediscovery and restoration of the 1837 portrait “Bélizaire and the Frey Children,” attributed to Jacques Amans. He is known for bringing renewed attention to the painting, which depicts Bélizaire, an enslaved Afro-Creole teenager whose ﬁgure had been painted over and obscured for decades. Through conservation, genealogical

IMPACT

research and historical analysis, Simien helped recover Bélizaire’s identity and story This year, he is expanding his media platform with a podcast “Static & Dust.”

Simien was featured on PBS Digital Studios’ “The Story in Us,” an anthology series that celebrates global storytelling traditions. Episode two, “How Creators Are Reframing Southern Identity,” premiered Jan. 15 and was partly ﬁlmed in Baton Rouge. The eightpart series explores how culture, history and identity are preserved through the universal art of storytelling. Watch the series at www.pbs.org/show/ the-story-in-us.

This interview was edited for length and clarity. With your background in art, why was it important for you to be a part of this project in Southern storytelling and identity?

I was drawn to art because certain pieces express so much that’s difﬁcult to explain. It can cause people to think It can say so much without having to ﬁt into 15 or 20 seconds, or without having to sit for an hour and a half and listen to a long drawn-out story

A picture speaks 1,000 words, and sometimes it can do that in less than 30 seconds. I was drawn to trying to ﬁnd a way to tell these stories for more than one reason. One, so they would be preserved. I regretted not asking one of my grandparents a lot of stories and questions about her upbringing, but I was fortunate to have other grandparents who lived into their 90s.

I learned that so much went unwritten. That’s always the case, but it’s especially the case for a certain generation in Louisiana and even more so with certain demographics and agricultural backgrounds. They were not necessarily exposed to formal education, some not exposed to any education, so that limited their ability to preserve history It wasn’t written a lot of times, so they preserved through storytelling and oral tradition. With the omnipresence of social media, how do you balance the depth of storytelling with shorter attention spans in a digital world?

It’s more than depth and quick engagement, it’s also integrity It’s easy to lead with rage baiting and get their attention. But there comes a responsibility not

Q&A WITH JEREMy SIMIEN

word: on porches, in church basements and around kitchen tables.” How did you experience storytelling in your childhood? It was a lot of the kitchen table. The advent of air conditioning has not always been there, but it has changed where we tell these stories.

Technology has changed, just like air conditioning, and we don’t necessarily have to sit on the porch for ventilation anymore. Sometimes it was sitting around the TV

Continued from page 1y

self-study AP students and creating a statewide electronic platform to log community service hours.

“LYAC teaches you to work with adults and work with your peers because they really have to work together They are coming to the Capitol to testify on bills and putting themselves out there in a way that’s scary,” Bella said.

The council, comprised entirely of high school students with an interest in representing the voices of young people across the state, was created by state law in 2007 by Act 118. The 31 student members are appointed each year — three from each of the state’s six congressional districts and the remaining members at large.

The students attend a two-day seminar in July at the state Capitol to start their terms, then they meet every other month for one Saturday in Baton Rouge. In between, they meet on Zoom. At the start of each year, committees are established to create proposals to bring to legislators. This year’s committees include education, civic engagement, community resources and technology

‘An incredible opportunity’ Brinkley Bennett, a senior at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge is serving her second term with the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. She was part of the 2025 group that proposed and created the legislative K-12 School Safety Task Force with Sen. Rick Edmonds.

“When I saw the opportunity that I could actually start working in

government at such a young age, I kind of jumped at it, because I think LYAC is just such an incredible opportunity,” Bennett said.

The council allows legislators to directly discuss issues with high school students, and they work together to form policy

Bennett says she’s learned that creating policy that pleases everyone isn’t always easy, because legislation requires multiple perspectives from a variety of demographics. School safety, for example, she said, impacts school resource ofﬁcers, private companies, public schools, charter schools and other stakeholders.

“It’s important to bring everyone at the table in order to make sure everyone feels heard,” Bennett said.

Knight says the successful collaboration between students from different parts of the state has had a lasting impact on him. Presenting issues that matter

In addition to the K-12 School Safety Task Force, the council also has a seat on the Commission on School and Nonproﬁt Security as well as the Youth Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Task Force hosted by the Louisiana Department of Health.

Bishop says that the legislators are welcoming and receptive to the teenagers in their committee meetings.

“They know why we’re there,”

Bishop said. “We are ready to make a change with them. We’re honestly just as important to them as they are to us. We are the ones who are affected, and we see every bit of this ﬁrsthand every day of our lives.”

Recently, Bennett and other council members have been working with Sen Edmonds and individuals from the Department of Education,

to exploit. Right now on social media, there’s a lot of authentic stories being told by people who are not of the culture — and maybe not even the location. For me, the challenge is not only getting their attention it’s also trying to be respectful and have integrity with telling the story That can be a challenge, because people are not always interested in 45 seconds. Certain platforms say if people don’t watch for 2.5 seconds they kill

your video.

It’s upsetting and irritating, but you can complain about it, or you can re-strategize. You have to maintain integrity, and it’s sad when people don’t.

You have to be careful with this. Maybe I’m superstitious. Maybe I’m weird, but you have to honor the ancestors.

The episode synopsis explains that “Southern Black, Creole and Appalachian communities passed down history, values and identity through sound, rhythm and spoken

Louisiana School Board Association, Superintendents Association and other stakeholders to work toward making schools safer

At the last School Safety Task Force meeting, the council came up with three ideas — physical assessments of all schools by trained police, reporting threats to State Analytical Fusion Exchange and requiring safety and security standards for new school designs and renovations. These best practices were adopted by the task force and will be brought to legislation next session by Edmonds and Rep. Charles Owen.

Bella says the students will follow the bills through the legislative pro-

cess and come to the Capitol to testify in committee on both the House and Senate side.

“Whenever we go in committee,”

Bennett said, “it’s the fusion of all the work that we put in, and we’re bringing it to the legislator so they can see us as youth and that these issues do matter to us.”

To apply for next year’s council, visit house.louisiana.gov/civiced/. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 19, and enrolled in a public or private high school, a home school program, or a GED skills program.

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden @theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1y

I could hear her breathing differently, and she said, “I can do that.”

I’ve been thinking of our conversation in the days since — and how this quiet borrowing is something most of us do, whether we name it or not. None of us carries a never-ending supply of certainty or hope. There are seasons when our wells run low And on those days, we can keep going on what others lend us — a friend’s reassurance, a colleague’s conﬁdence, a parent’s steadiness, even the kindness of a stranger

Eventually our own faith is restored, and then we get the chance to return the favor If the young adults in my orbit are any indication — earnest, determined, hardworking, still believing people can be better — I ﬁnd my coffers replenished more often than not.

Faith in humanity is an ironic resource. The more we share, the more we create. Some days, we borrow Some days, we lend.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate. com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Historian and art collector Jeremy Simien gives a tour of his Baton Rouge collection on Nov. 6.

Simien

Chronic wasting disease threatens deer across the U.S.

BY HECTOR ALEJANDRO ARZATE Contributing writer

Editor’s note: This story, created by Héctor Alejandro Arzate is part of the AP Storyshare. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world.

The pickup trucks pulled into the parking lot every 10 minutes or so.

One after another, drivers rolled down their windows and staff greeted them like restaurant workers taking drive-thru orders. But these weren’t customers at any of the fast-food chains in central Missouri. They were deer hunters. Successful ones, with freshly tagged whitetails, rolling into the Missouri Department of Conservation’s ofﬁce in Columbia.

That mid-November weekend was the start of ﬁrearms season, typically, the most successful two-day outing for Missouri deer hunters. It was also when the state mandated sampling from every deer harvested in a select 35 counties.

Conservation staff were on the lookout for chronic wasting disease a neurological illness that can infect deer and closely related species like elk and moose. It’s highly contagious, always fatal, and there’s currently no treatment or vaccine.

“In order to manage the disease, clearly you got to know where it is,” said Jason Isabelle, the state’s supervisor for deer management.

To limit the spread of CWD, wildlife agencies have often relied on deer hunters, landowners and other stakeholders. Many are willing to

PROVIDED PHOTO By

HÉCTOR ALEJANDRO ARZATE

Deer hunter Collin Masters, left, pulls a severed buck head out of his truck to test for chronic wasting disease on Nov. 15 at a Missouri Department of Conservation site in Columbia, Missouri.

participate but tension has grown. Throughout the Midwest and Southeast, some deer hunters are at odds with their state over how to best respond to CWD.

That includes Missouri, where in addition to mandatory testing sites, the state had been working with landowners to “remove” deer in areas where CWD has been detected. But because the disease is not widely believed to affect humans, many hunters said they are more worried about the loss of game than CWD itself.

“You start hearing about the thousands and thousands of deer — healthy deer — that they’re killing to try to thin the herds all through the state of Missouri,” said Mark Ackerson, a hunter from Peculiar Missouri. “It starts to become a little ridiculous.”

As a lifelong hunter, Ackerson said he prioritizes harvestingwildgameoverstorebought meat. At a family outing this past season, however, hesaidthereweren’tasmany deer as he hoped.

“It has drastically affected my life,” he said. “Yeah, it’s terrible and I don’t believe in it.”

Rising pushback

The exact origins of CWD are unknown. It was first detected in captive deer at a government research facility in Colorado back in 1967.

Since then, the disease has been found in both wild and

captive cervids in 36 U.S states — including all 10 along the Mississippi River It’s also been identiﬁed in ﬁve Canadian provinces, as well as Finland, Norway, Sweden, and South Korea.

Many states that have detected CWD have a surveillance or management plan in place.

“We know what happens when you let it run its course. Which is that it becomes highly prevalent and it has impacts on the population,” said Daniel Storm, a deer research scientist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

But conservation agencies’ response to the disease has spurred distrust among some hunters. In Illinois and Minnesota, researchers have found that particularly in places where CWD has been detected, hunters are less likely to defer to conservation agencies on questions like herd management and the risk posed by the disease In Missouri, one person started an online petition last year that called on the conservation department to end the “unnecessary killing” of deer as part of its CWD containmentefforts.Thepetition implored MDC to consider more “sustainable and ethical” actions, as well as more engagement with the hunting community It gathered over 3,000 signatures.

Then, in mid-December, MDC director Jason Sum-

ners announced that the state would pause its postseason targeting of deer in areas where CWD had been detected.

In an open letter to hunters, Sumners shared how his passion for white-tailed deer as a youth in rural Missouri led him toward a career in state conservation.

Sumners said that MDC would work with both hunters and landowners to ﬁnd a more sustainable approach toward CWD management. But he emphasized the threat of the disease if left unchecked.

“Some will say CWD is simply a political disease that has not impacted deer populations,” he wrote, “but this couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

Still, Sumners said that most stakeholders share the same goal of sustaining Missouri’s deer population so that future generations can appreciate it, including his own family

“Together, we can preserve the health of the herd and the futureofhunting;divided,we may lose it,” Sumners said. Why the urgency?

Kip Adams is the chief conservation ofﬁcer for the National Deer Association, an advocate for deer conservation across the country

He said that CWD is the “single largest threat” to the futureofdeerherdsandhunting opportunities in the U.S.

So he wants to see the spread of the disease slow down.

“That’s not just my personal opinion or (our) organization, but the vast majority of wildlife professionals view it that way,” Adams said.

CWD is caused by misfolded proteins, or prions. These replicate and damage the deer’s brain and nervous system, which often leads to extreme weight loss, drooling, confusion, and other strange behaviors that ultimately result in death.

Yet, CWD-infected deer can survive for a year or more before dying. They

might not look sick at ﬁrst, but these deer will still spread CWD through direct herd contact and bodily ﬂuids, such as saliva, urine and feces. Shed prions can contaminate the soil and water for many years.

“By the time you’re seeing lots of sick deer on the landscape, it’s way too late to do anything,” said Isabelle.

Last year, Missouri tested over 36,000 deer for CWD, ﬁnding 243 new cases. Seven counties experienced their ﬁrst-ever case.

New cases came out to less than 1% of the deer population tested in Missouri. It’s a good thing, said Isabelle In some parts of states like Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, the CWD prevalence rate has surpassed 5%.

Potential human risks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people take precautions when handling animals infected with CWD.

Currently, there is no strong evidence that CWD can be transferred to humans. A 2018 article found a lack of transmission in macaque monkeys after 13 years of observation.

That’s unlike the prioncaused mad cow disease. It can spread to humans who eat infected beef and has been linked to fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease of the brain.

Researchers did publish a 2024 article that examined two cases of hunters who developed Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease — which is different from the variant CreutzfeldtJakob linked to beef — after possible exposure to CWDinfected deer

However, most research suggests a strong species barrier In 2024, researchers in China and at the National Institutes of Health tested lab-grown human brain cells — called cerebral organoids for potential transmission. The results found a lack of prion transmission, according to Dr Cathryn Haigh, the

chief of the prion cell biology unit and one of the study’s coauthors. The results are “promising,” Haigh added. Still, concerns remain about both the emergence of a new CWD strain and the possibility that a small group of people has a genetic susceptibility to CWD.

“Personally, I would prefer my meat to be tested,” Haigh said. “But I really don’t think that handling a deer carcass is probably going to be very high risk.”

Future of deer populations In Missouri, the disease was first identified in 2012. Since then, it’s been detected in more than one-third of all of the state’s counties. Monitoring the spread of the disease can be a big endeavor Missouri is home to approximately 1.7 million whitetail deer, and testing requires the willingness of hunters like Collin Masters. On a warmer-than-usual season opener, Masters and his wife brought the severed head of a buck to the state conservation office in Columbia. She had shot the buck in Boone County, one of the places where scientists fear CWD may have spread. The head was wrapped inside a plastic trash bag, which he had stuffed into a green cooler. It wouldn’t shut because the buck’s antlers were sticking out. This wasn’t really an issue for Sarah Billington. Billington got to work with her scalpel. She is not a biologist She’s an administrative assistant, whose responsibilities include paying office bills or answering questions from the public. Yet, Billington had performed this procedure at least 20 times already Below the deer’s lower jaw were two bean-shaped lumps called retropharyngeal lymph nodes, which help its immune system filter out pathogens. Labs need the nodes because prions have a tendency to collect inside.

FAITH & VALUES

In Altadena, displaced congregations ‘in the wilderness’

Region scarred by Eaton Fire over a year ago

BY HAYDEN ROYSTER Contributing writer

To drive the streets of Altadena now, a little over a year after the Eaton Fire, is to be confronted by acres of dirt and greenery

The last of the charred debris was removed in August, and thanks to record-breaking winter rainfall, weeds and wild grasses have claimed many of the cleared lots.

The Eaton Fire was among the most devastating fires in California history killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,400 structures in this racially and economically diverse suburb of Los Angeles. More than a dozen of those buildings were houses of worship — like Masjid Al-Taqwa, Altadena’s ﬁrst mosque.

Jihad Abdus-Shakoor, whose parents helped found Masjid AlTaqwa in the 1970s, spent much of his life within its walls. Today, all that remains of the mosque are its parking lot and street sign

Abdus-Shakoor feels some relief at seeing rubble removed, but seeing the empty land is also “another blow,” he said “You’re glad the city is cleaned up, but the ﬁnality of looking at dirt is a different experience.”

In the year since the ﬁre, Altadena faith communities whose structures were burned or damaged have found temporary spiritual homes, often leaning on interfaith connections to do so. Gradually, some are moving toward rebuilding although that day, for congregations and thousands of residents, remains distant.

For the Masjid Al-Taqwa community, the loss of the mosque was one of many Around 30 households, including the AbdusShakoor family, lost homes and businesses. One founding member’s daughter was killed

Within days of the Eaton Fire, the community gathered for Friday prayers, hosted at First AME Church-Pasadena. In the months to come, they met at an Islamic school before settling into a property owned by Pasadena Covenant Church.

The church encouraged them to make the two-room building their own. Over time, Abdus-Shakoor and others tore down the dividing wall and installed plush carpeting, creating a space more akin to a traditional mosque Abdus-Shakoor, who is heading up the mosque’s crisis recovery estimates his community could remain in the church building for another year or two. “They’ve opened the doors to us, and it’s been a good collaboration,” he said A few blocks from Masjid AlTaqwa’s former site was Altadena Baptist Church, a progressive, multiracial church that lost its

sanctuary and children’s center to the blaze.

Since September, its members have held services downstairs at the Christian Science Church of Altadena — a white steepled chapel that somehow survived. “Our joke around here is that the only building to stand is the one woodframed building,” said the Rev George Van Alstine, associate pastor of Altadena Baptist Church.

“So, Mary Baker Eddy” — founder of Christian Science — “must be right.”

Van Alstine has pastored his progressive, multiracial parish since 1972, while the Rev Connie Larson DeVaughn, the current lead pastor, joined in 1987. For decades, they have both been part of groups such as the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Pasadena — partnerships, they believe, that helped pave the way for the interfaith cooperation needed this year

“We don’t have to build those bridges at all,” DeVaughn said.

“We already have them.”

One crucial organization has been the Clergy Community Coalition. Created in 2005 to help local faith groups collectively address social issues, CCC has played a key role in ﬁre relief: connecting Altadena congregations with temporary spaces, publishing a list of damaged houses of worship, and introducing donors to faith groups in need.

“We didn’t know that the 20 years of deep relationship-building, how important that would be in 2025,” said Mayra Macedo-Nolan, the executive director of CCC.

A former pastor herself, Macedo-Nolan described effectively serving as a “pastor to pastors” this past year She and CCC host a

regular meeting for leaders of the houses of worship that were lost. Along with helping them meet the needs of their members and neighbors, she said, “we also wanted to help them consider how to build for the future of the community.”

Recently congregations have begun taking concrete steps toward rebuilding. Some, such as Altadena Baptist Church and Masjid Al-Taqwa, are in talks with potential architects. Congregations with larger footprints, according to Macedo-Nolan, are considering adding affordable housing units to their properties as well.

One crucial organization has been the Clergy Community Coalition. Created in 2005 to help local faith groups collectively address social issues, CCC has played a

Six stories highlight global progress

From staff reports

These are stories of global progress, compiled by the media group Fix the News and shared in partnership with The Advocate/The Times-Picayune.

Each story overview is linked to an original report or story with more information.

Group uplists endangered manta, devil ray species

In November, member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora voted to grant the highest level of international protection to all 10 species of manta and devil rays. Oceanographic reported that the decision bans all international commercial trade in manta and devil ray products Known for their sweeping wingspans, the rays have specialized gill plates that set them apart from all other rays. Historically these traits have made them vulnerable, along with slow maturity and low reproductive rates. Now the fate of the manta and devil rays depends on global follow-through.

WHO/UNICEF releases

water supply report

The World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund has released the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene since 1990 to produce

estimates of progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene internationally The 2025 report assesses those factors from 2000 to 2024. While gaps remain, many people gained improved services — millions now have safely managed drinking water, sanitation and basic hygiene — but progress varies regionally According to the report, “between 2000 and 2024, the global population increased from 6.2 billion to 8.2 billion. Over this period, a quarter of the world’s population (2.2 billion) gained access to safely managed drinking water, and a third (2.8 billion) gained safely managed sanitation.”

How Kerala virtually eliminated poverty Kerala, a lower-middle-income economy in India, has virtually eliminated extreme poverty by combining modest economic growth with investments in health, education, equitable distribution, targeted safety nets and community participation. Brookings, a nonpartisan think tank reported that ofﬁcials used a multidimensional poverty index to identify the poorest households and ensure none were overlooked through ground-level validation. Special programs, like the Athidaridrya Nirmarjana project, were instituted to identify and uplift individuals within ﬁve years. Extensive community engagement, led by local governments and supported by workers

like ASHA and Kudumbashree volunteers, was key Kerala’s historically egalitarian distribution also helped reduce poverty much more than income measures alone suggest.

South Africa fights back against invasive plants

South Africa’s landscapes are increasingly dominated by invasive plants like jacarandas, wattle and bugweed, which deplete water supplies, worsen drought and displace native ecosystems. These species cover about 10% of the country’s land, straining water supplies, biodiversity and agriculture while contributing to flooding and wildfire risk. In response, national and local programs are removing invasives from rivers, catchments and urban areas according to the World Resources Institute These efforts have restored water supplies, created jobs, improved ecosystem health, supported flood resilience and bolstered biodiversity

Collaboration extended to eliminate 3 diseases

The World Health Organization and Bayer AG, the German pharmaceutical company have extended a longstanding partnership into 2030 to support countries in scaling up free treatment for three neglected tropical diseases (NTDs): Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and taeniasis/cys-

LGBTQ+-inclusive and afﬁrming.

“That’s in my mind,” she said. “I’m thinking, ‘What does our LGBTQ+ community need from us?’” Whatever space the church builds, financing will inevitably be a factor With insurance and Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements only partially covering rebuilding costs, they and other congregations will likely need to fundraise millions. Across town, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center is weighing its own options and needs. The only Conservative Jewish synagogue in the western San Gabriel Valley, its worship space, library and entire campus were leveled by the ﬁre, with only the Torah scroll preserved.

A year on, the synagogue’s 450 members gather at the chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, while their religious school rents space at a nearby independent school. It was amid this season of uncertainty that Rabbi Joshua Ratner entered last August after accepting the role of PJTC’s senior rabbi. Ratner arrived knowing he had “spiritual reserves” his congregants might not But he has been struck by a “strong spirit of resilience and optimism,” especially around what a new campus could bring, from a revamped library to a basketball court to expansive views of the San Gabriel Mountains. “This is a real exciting opportunity to build something from scratch,” he said.

In the meantime, Ratner acknowledged, “we are, to borrow a biblical theme, in the wilderness.” While their Methodist hosts have been “accommodating” and “respectful” obscuring the cross with curtains during Shabbat services, for instance — “we know where we are,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like home.”

While their Methodist hosts have been “accommodating” and “respectful” — obscuring the cross with curtains during Shabbat services, for instance — “we know where we are,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like home.”

key role in ﬁre relief: connecting Altadena congregations with temporary spaces, publishing a list of damaged houses of worship, and introducing donors to faith groups in need.

“We didn’t know that the 20 years of deep relationship-building, how important that would be in 2025,” said Mayra Macedo-Nolan, the executive director of CCC. DeVaughn sees a “golden opportunity” to create something better She is clear-eyed about what that could mean. “We imagine that it’s going to be wealthy people buying in after the ﬁre,” she said “So we do want it to be beautiful.” She is also conscious of Altadena’s substantial queer community In recent years, DeVaughn’s church has begun deﬁning itself as

The sentiment is reflective of Altadena at large. Fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt, and 7 in 10 residents are still displaced. With many facing ﬁnancial uncertainty, and homeowners of color disproportionately impacted, there are concerns that only wealthy, White Altadenans will return home at all.

Abdus-Shakoor, his wife and his parents currently rent a house in Duarte, about 12 miles east of Altadena. At the moment, there is a signiﬁcant gap between their insurance payout and what the family ultimately needs to rebuild.

“The community as a whole, from the faith-based organizations to all the residents, we still need a lot of help and support,” AbdusShakoor said. “It’s been a year, and it’s easy for this to be forgotten. But the journey is long.”

PROVIDED PHOTO By EMMA HICKERSON, FLOWER GARDEN BANKS NMS

A school of devil rays swim in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. In November member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora voted to grant the highest level of international protection to all 10 species of manta and devil rays.

ticercosis. According to WHO, “NTDs are a diverse group of 21 diseases or disease groups that are widespread in the world’s poorest regions, where water safety, sanitation and access to health care are substandard.” Bayer will donate 18 million tablets and vials (suramin, nifurtimox, niclosamide) valued at about $15.5 million and provide $9.45 million in ﬁnancial support to WHO programs and operations. The collaboration “calls for the eradication or elimination of several of these conditions by the end of the decade.”

New guidelines unveiled for rewilding

The IUCN Commission on Environmental Management has unveiled its new guidelines for rewilding, offer-

ing the first comprehensive global framework for the practice. These guidelines were developed with partners worldwide and define rewilding as a nature-led, humanenabled approach to restoring selfsustaining ecosystems. The guidance aims to embed rewilding in global conservation policy and accelerate nature recovery to address biodiversity and climate crises Some of the guidelines include embracing ecosystem changes and involving local communities in decision-making. Fix the News is the world’s leading solutions journalism newsletter The group finds hidden stories of progress and shares them with readers from 195 countries. Steven Pinker calls the newsletter “the best source for positive news on the internet.” Visit the website at fixthenews.com.

The former Altadena Community Church in seen in December in Altadena, Calif.

PHOTOS PROVIDED By KATHy DENINNO PHOTOGRAPHy

People participate in Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center’s one-year memorial event since the Eaton Fire on Jan. 6 at the site of the former synagogue in Pasadena, Calif.

SUNDAY, FebrUArY 15, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE /byStephan Pastis

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

word game

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

todAY's Word — ideoLoGies: eye-deeOL-uh-jees: Concepts, especially about human life or culture

Average mark 48 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 66 or more words in IDEOLOGIES?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

wuzzLes

On the ball?

super Quiz

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

SUBJECT: MARY OR MARIE

(e.g.,

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

Thanks for today’s deal goes to Scotland’sBarnetShenkin.Shenkin lived in Florida for about 20 years and achieved many outstanding results in top American competitions. He moved back to his native Scotland a few years ago. He was West and made the excellent lead of a trump. On any other lead, declarer would have no trouble ruffing two diamonds in dummy and making his ambitious slam. Dummy’s nine of clubs took the first trick as East shed a heart. South led a diamond from dummy at trick two. Had East played the king, South would have ducked, knowing that East had no-trump to lead. East played low so South took his ace and led another diamond. East had to win and he tried the ace of hearts, but South ruffed and ruffed a diamond in dummy Another heart ruff was followed by another diamond ruff, setting up the 10. One more heart ruff got South back to his hand, where he drew the remaining two trumps and claimed his contract. Well played! The defense missed a chance. At trick one, the importance of getting West on lead to play another trump should have been apparent to East His king of diamonds would not be a trick for the defense should South hold the ace-queen. East should have discarded the king of diamonds on the opening club lead! Declarer would not have been able to keep West off lead and the slam would have been defeated.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb 19) Get your next adventure underway Life is too short not to manifest your dreams and live up to your expectations. A partnership or joint venture looks promising.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) A change may not be something you want, but it might be time to shake things up and see what transpires. Paint an interesting picture for those you wish to incorporate into your plans.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) It’s time to shake things up and consider what makes you happy Big choic-

es can make or break your future. A mix of minimalism, gratitude and satisfaction will take you far.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Question everything, but do so with kindness and consideration. Your best route forward is the one that allows you to be yourself and broaden your knowledge, experience and options.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Choose the path that satisfies your soul Don’t be a follower when you have so much to offer if you dedicate time and effort to the situations that concern you most.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use your ingenuity when you encounter a roadblock. A thoughtful approach to how you deal with others or take care of your responsibilities will serve you well.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Stop stewing over situations and put an end to whatever is disrupting your life. Peace of mind will come from action Change isn’t always easy, but when it’s necessary put it behind you.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept. 22) Live and learn Gather facts and assemble your thoughts and plans accordingly Opportunity knocks, but if

you sit at home doing nothing, it will pass you by Get out, engage and see what happens.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct 23) If you enjoy what you do, you will find the courage to initiate your dreams. Use your intellectual charm to endear yourself to those you want to impress or befriend.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Doublecheck everything you hear or encounter before you agree to participate. Distance yourself from anyone using pressure or temptation to lead you astray

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Push your agenda forward. Physical

activity and direct action will help alleviate pressure and leave you feeling gratified and ready to conquer whatever comes next.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Choose to use charm and intelligence over harsh words or disciplinary action. Bullying others will only escalate problems, whereas a give-and-take approach will help you instill higher standards.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.

goren Bridge

Answers to puzzles

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

Saturday's Cryptoquote: Istill believe thatloveis all you need. Idon't know abetter message than that. —Paul McCartney

1. Mary Tyler Moore. 2. MaryMagdalene 3. Mary Pickford. 4. Marie Antoinette. 5. Mary Shelley.6.Mary Todd Lincoln.7.Marie Curie. 8. MarySteenburgen. 9. Mary J. Blige. 10.Mary Astor.11. Mary Lou Retton. 12. Marie Wilson. 13. Marie Osmond. 14.Marie Dressler.15. Mary, Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart). Crossword Answers